Thousands expected to join largest strike ever at NorCal Kaiser clinics

"Kaiser Permanente nurses and health care workers across multiple Northern California clinics are preparing to strike Tuesday in the union's largest strike ever. Workers plan to halt work for five days at more than two dozen hospitals in California and Hawaii, according to a news release from the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, the organization that represents the workers. The union expects "tens of thousands" of workers could participate in the strike."

"A spokesperson for the union told SFGATE that the work stoppage will occur at any location where "striking employees work" and will include positions like midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, physical and occupational therapists, physician assistants and acupuncturists. Not every clinic will have a picket line, but in Northern California, physical picketing will happen at Oakland Medical Center, Roseville Medical Center and Santa Clara Medical Center, the spokesperson said."

"In its news release, the union said it believes Kaiser is on a "dangerous path" and that "stagnant wages and unsafe staffing threaten both the workforce and the high-quality care patients depend on." Workers are asking for more staff, pay that aligns with the rising costs of housing, food and health care and retirement security as many workers "lack pensions.""

"Gina Yarbrough, a physical therapist in the neonatal intensive care unit at Kaiser Modesto, told SFGATE that when she first began working at Kaiser she was able to see her patients typically once a week. Now, there is a month or longer gap in between patient visits, which she believes is highly concerning. "When you're talking about these families with special needs kids who depend on that care to get their child to a normal level of function, where their children can grow up and be able to function independently. That is devastatin"

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses and health care workers are preparing a five-day strike that will affect more than two dozen hospitals in California and Hawaii. The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals expects tens of thousands of participants and says the stoppage will occur wherever striking employees work, covering a range of clinical positions. Physical picketing is planned at several Northern California medical centers. Workers cite stagnant wages, unsafe staffing, rising living costs, and lack of retirement security, and report that reduced therapy access is harming patients, including special-needs children.

Read at SFGATE