Thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses and healthcare workers in San Diego have walked off the job because of stalled contract negotiations.
More than 31-thousand caregivers across California and Hawaii say Kaiser is stretching them so thin, it's affecting patient care.
Their union wants better pay, more supplies and more staffing to keep up with demand. It also claims Kaiser hasn't addressed those concerns to their satisfaction.
Labor and delivery nurse Desiree Neck was picketing outside the San Diego Kaiser Hospital on Clairemont Mesa Boulveard and tells San Diego's Morning News patients are in danger because of overworked nurses.
"There are travel nurses that have been brought in to cross the line and take over, but they're not trained, they're not oriented, no, it's not safe."
The pickets in San Diego County will be held at:
- San Marcos Medical Center, 360 Rush Drive, San Marcos
- San Diego Medical Center, 9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego
- Zion Medical Center, 4647 Zion Ave., San Diego
In a statement, Kaiser says it plans to ensure members and patients receive safe, high quality care during the strike, and its hospitals and medical offices will remain open.
(photo credit: KGTV 10 News)
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