2,400 Kaiser mental health workers to begin open-ended strike: 6 things to know

2,400 Kaiser mental health workers to begin open-ended strike: 6 things to know 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 10/11/24 
Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers are set to begin an open-ended strike Oct. 21 at Kaiser Permanente locations in Southern California. Six things to know:

1. The union represents about 2,400 mental health workers at Kaiser facilities throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, Orange County and the Inland Empire ...
2. Union members authorized a strike in early October.  ...
3. Kaiser told Becker's via statement that its offer during negotiations "has no takeaways. ..." 
4. The union contends that during bargaining, Kaiser has refused to extend benefits from last year's contract for Northern California mental health workers — such as providing therapists with seven hours per week for critical patient care — to their Southern California counterparts. 
5. "We want to be with our patients, but we can't keep working in a system that doesn't meet their needs and treats us like assembly line workers trying to meet a quota," ...
6. "We will stay at the table until this deal is done," Kaiser said in its statement.