31K Nurses, Other Health Workers Strike With No End Planned: What To Know In CA

Some 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care workers across California and Hawaii began striking Monday amid an impasse in contract negotiations. The strike — which has no planned end date — is expected to impact Kaiser's operations, according to the company.

The strike marks the second work stoppage by members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals in recent months. In October, the union planned and executed a five-day strike. But this time labor leaders have not indicated how long this action will last.

The strike includes nearly 20 hospitals and 200 clinics, the vast majority in of which are in California. Participating workers include registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists and dietitians, according to the union.

UNAC/UHCP's contract with Kaiser expired at the end of September; negotiations for a new contract have been underway since May. The strike comes amid continued disputes over wages, staffing levels and other matters.

Kaiser is offering a 21.5% wage increase over four years, while the union has continued to seek a 25% raise over the same period. The sides are also fighting over claims by Kaiser that a labor leader tried to "coerce" the company with unspecified damaging information about the company, a dispute that led the union to file a complaint with the federal government.

• Read more about what's behind the strike and the dispute between UNAC/UHCP and Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser said in a statement it has plans to ensure members and patients receive safe, high-quality care. The organization said its hospitals and medical offices will remain open and that members should not cancel or schedule appointments just because of the strike.

"We may need to reschedule some nonurgent appointments and elective surgeries. If you have an appointment scheduled on a possible strike date, please don't cancel or reschedule. We'll contact you if we have to reschedule your appointment," the statement reads.

Some pharmacies and Target Clinics in Southern California will be closed. Kaiser published a list detailing which locations remain open.

No Northern California locations were set to close as a result of the strike, Kaiser said on Monday.

Picketing was set to begin at 7 a.m. Monday at the following California Kaiser locations:

• Oakland Medical Center
• Roseville Medical Center
• Santa Clara Medical Center
• Anaheim Medical Center
• Irvine Medical Center
• Downey Medical Center
• South Bay Medical Center
• Kaiser Stockdale Medical Offices (Bakersfield)
• Lancaster Medical Office Building
• Panorama City Medical Center
• Woodland Hills Medical Center
• Los Angeles Medical Center
• West Los Angeles Medical Center
• Baldwin Park Medical Center
• Riverside Medical Center
• Fontana Medical Center
• Ontario Medical Center
• San Marcos Medical Center
• Zion Medical Center (San Diego)
• San Diego Medical Center

City News Service contributed to this report.