Kaiser Permanente Workers Strike Tuesday

Unionized nurses and other health care workers with Kaiser Permanente will conduct a 24-hour strike in California on Tuesday.

Workers are planning to walk off the job at 160 Kaiser Permanente Facilities statewide.

Eighty of those locations are in Southern California.

There was a similar strike back in September.

The walkouts are in response to cuts in healthcare and retirement benefits that Kaiser is proposing for thousands of its employees.

Kaiser officials say all facilities will remain open during any work stoppage.

In a statement released by Kaiser leaders on Tuesday, they said only 2,500 workers were expected to walk out.

“The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), which represents only about 2,500 of our 55,000 employees in Southern California, has informed us that it will conduct a limited, one-day work stoppage and picketing activities on Tuesday, January 31,” the statement read.

“Our first priority is your safety and care. We’ve taken steps to ensure you will continue to receive high-quality care and service from a team of experienced doctors and other clinicians.”

Click here to read Kaiser’s full statement regarding the walkout.

A similar walkout was planned by nurses and other clinical technicians in Southern California by the SIEU Local 721 on Tuesday.

Defying a judge’s order to stay on the job, about 6,000 workers descended on the Riverside County Board of Supervisor’s meeting, this morning to protest.

At last check, supervisors were taking 10-minute break to allow deputies to restore order inside the chambers.

Stay with KESQ.com for more.