Kaiser Employees to Strike Again Tuesday

Nurses, mental health counselors and optical workers at Kaiser Permanente will stage a 24-hour strike Tuesday, and part of an ongoing contract dispute between the HMO and the National Union of Healthcare Workers.

Union members at will honor the statewide walkout, though the centers will remain open and staffed with replacements. An estimated 21,000 workers are expected to participate throughout California, including members of the California Nurses Assocation who are striking in support of NUHW.

Workers are objecting to Kaiser's proposals to cut health and retirement benefits and what they say is inadequate staffing at the healthcare chain.

"Kaiser is grossly understaffed, particularly in its mental health services," said union spokesperson Leighton Woodhouse, repeating a charge the NUHW made in .

Kaiser, however, called the staffing issue a red herring.

"Kaiser Permanente is in compliance with the law. The quality of our mental health services has been recognized by the State of California's Office of the Patient Advocate," the HMO said in a prepared statement. "We strongly disagree with anyone who may claim this is about issues related to quality."

The healthcare chain also said it offers "market-leading salary and benefits" and "will continue to do so."

The two sides have been negotiating since 2010 on a new contract for NUHW-represented workers.

Some Kaiser patients who had non-urgent appointments Tuesday have already received notices to reschedule, NUHW said. The medical centers will continue to accept emergency patients as usual.

Don't expect to see picket lines in Elk Grove, however; the union says workers will gather for rallies at Kaiser's South Sacramento and Sacramento medical centers.