The 24-hour strike is led by 4,000 members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers employed by Kaiser. Seventeen thousand registered nurses with the California Nurses Association and 650 members of the Stationary Engineers Local 39 are striking in sympathy.
Contract negotiations between NUHW and Kaiser have been stalled since July. The union is opposing cuts in the contract, but Kaiser denied claims that it proposed eliminating retirement benefits and said the contract includes wage increases.
Kaiser hospitals and medical offices in Northern California will remain open, according to the report.
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