Business & Tech
22,000 Kaiser Employees Striking Today
Dispute over new contract for mental health and optical employees in Bay Area.
Kaiser Permanente workers throughout Northern California said on Monday that they will stage a one-day strike on Tuesday in a dispute over a new contract for mental health and optical employees.
The dispute involves 4,000 members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, who have been bargaining for a new contract since 2010.
Two other unions have agreed to walk out on Tuesday in a sympathy strike. They are the California Nurses Association, which represents 17,000 nurses, and Stationary Engineers Local 39, which represents 650 building and equipment workers.
Find out what's happening in Half Moon Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The one-day strike could consequently involve a total of about 22,000 Kaiser employees across the region.
The nurses' union said they will support the mental health and optical employees, who include technicians, clinical psychologists, licensed social workers and opticians.
Find out what's happening in Half Moon Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The dispute involves wages, health care coverage, retirement benefits, patient care and staffing levels.
— Bay City News
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