Over 3,000 Kaiser Permanente lab workers and pharmacy techs joined nurses on the picket lines on Monday.
United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents the lab employees and pharmacy techs, accuses Kaiser of engaging in unfair labor practices and that “management walked away from the bargaining table.”
It comes a couple of weeks after 31,000 nurses walked off the job.
KNX News’ Jon Baird spoke with some of the workers who hit the picket lines outside Kaiser’s La Cienega location.
“I feel proud to see everybody out here fighting for us to get a fair contract, and that's why we're here to fight for our rights,” one worker said.
In a statement, Kaiser officials said the strike is unnecessary and it's disruptive toward helping patients. They also said that nurses' demands are unsustainable, that they're asking for a billion dollars more overall for the life of the contract that Kaiser is offering and added that a number of employees are crossing the picket lines to return to work.
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But some workers told Baird that they’re going to continue to strike until they get a fair deal.
“The members are out here to show Kaiser that they're willing to do whatever it takes to have them,” another worker said. “Come back to the bargaining table and negotiate. That's all we're looking for. “
As a result of the strike, Kaiser officials say some pharmacies and labs will be closed.
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