On Monday, 31,000 Kaiser employees across California and Hawaii walked off the job to strike against the healthcare giant.
KNX News’ Jon Baird spoke with the striking healthcare workers outside Kaiser’s L.A. Medical Center on Sunset Blvd. They say they want better wages and a boost in staffing levels.
“We do not have enough staff to adequately take care of our patients, and our staff does not have a say in how they are taken care of,” a union official told Baird.
This strike, the workers say, is open-ended, and they don't know when they'll go back to work.
“Financially, it's going to be a little bit of a punch, but we're all in this together,” a striking healthcare worker said. “We're trying to get a good contract, and we're all in with the union.
Kaiser officials say their facilities will remain open during the strike, although some pharmacies may close and some non-urgent appointments and elective surgeries may have to be canceled.
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Baird spoke with patients who went in and out of Kaiser, and they told him that they were able to go in and see their doctors without an issue, but that they supported the workers.
“Well, you know, we have so many problems lately, especially with the money and living costs, so everybody needs to fight for something in these days,” one patient said.
Kaiser also said it had offered a 21.5% wage increase; however, the union is demanding 25%.
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