Kaiser Strike In California: Thousands Walk Off The Job For 24 Hours (PHOTOS)

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities throughout California have gone on strike over contract disputes involving Kaiser's mental health and optical employees.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers says its 4,000 Kaiser employees are staging a 24-hour strike Tuesday over proposed cuts to health care and retirement benefits. The union represents Kaiser mental health and optical employees.

It's their fourth walkout since contract negotiations started in 2010. Kaiser officials say the union hasn't responded to their wage and benefit proposals.

The California Nurses Association said nurses would stage a strike in solidarity. Kaiser says about two-thirds of its nurses showed up for work as scheduled.

Kaiser hospitals and medical offices remained open during the strike, though some appointments and elective procedures were rescheduled.

Photos by Leighton Woodhouse of NUHW.

Comments

[BewilderingBeing]

02:14 PM on 02/01/2012

LOL you work in the medical industry and they cut your medical benefits? Wow.. Kaiser deserves all the attention they can get. Im sure the nurses they are replacing them with are qualified and safe right?

[MrStat1]

01:21 PM on 02/01/2012

I guess everyone of them can do without a days pay. Must be nice!

[Soc3947]

10:13 AM on 02/01/2012

They are well paid...

[Dead Ted]

07:13 PM on 01/31/2012

Fire them. Please.

[YeahDonkey]

08:57 PM on 01/31/2012

Yes, because Keiser is losing so much money they couldn't possibly pay nurses what they owe them when they signed their contracts to work there. Why is it that moronic teabaggers are so ready to fire workers who go on strike? Do you know how hard they work? Do you know how much Kieser screws them everyday by not hiring enough staff, putting your life and nurses licenses in jeopardy just so they can make more money which is going straight to CEO bonuses and huge profits for Keiser?

You know nothing of what you glibly comment on.

Time for someone to fire you.

[neutral nelly]

11:41 PM on 01/31/2012

Kaiser

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

02:17 AM on 02/01/2012

Why isn't this on the front page.

[U Ragazzu]

06:23 AM on 02/01/2012

How dare employees exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to protest grievances!

[MrStat1]

01:21 PM on 02/01/2012

Protest all you want, but you won't get paid.