From today’s USA Today:
Nearly 64,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers in California, Oregon and Washington who demand better pay and more robust staffing have authorized a strike if no new contract is reached when the current deal ends Sept. 30.
The nurses, support staff and other health care workers that are part of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West unions are prepared to walk off the job without a new deal. About 98% of SEIU-UHW members in California authorized a strike during a two-week vote.
In a separate vote also announced Thursday, 4,000 Kaiser workers in Oregon and Washington authorized a strike. Last week, Kaiser Permanente workers in Colorado authorized a strike. Union members representing Kaiser workers in other states could authorize a strike. In all, 85,000 Kaiser health care workers in seven states are demanding new contracts.
Union officials said unless a new deal is reached, it could be the largest ever health care worker strike in the United States.
Read the complete story here.