Over 2,400 Kaiser Permanente psychologists, therapists, social workers, and other mental health workers in Southern California initiated an open-ended strike on Monday. The strike was prompted by concerns over increased workloads and staffing shortages, which the National Union of Healthcare Workers, representing the employees, described as leading to a 'substandard' system of care.
The union is currently in negotiations with Kaiser Permanente, demanding the hiring of more staff to alleviate the burden on the current workforce. Kaiser, on the other hand, stated that the union has been prolonging negotiations, while their proposals have been deemed 'overreaching and unreasonable.'
