Thousands of Kaiser nurses strike over patient care conditions

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Their chants were loud and directed squarely at their protagonist, Kaiser Permanente.

As many as 18,000 nurses in the midst of contract talks have walked off the job and are picketing in front of Kaiser Permanente facilities in the Bay Area and throughout Northern California to address what they say is eroding patient care conditions at Kaiser, including inadequate training and equipment.

"It has been Kaiser's business model to reduce, reduce, reduce," said one of the striking nurses.

The nurses say they will strike without talking wages. The union says more than 35 operational proposals remain unresolved after three months of bargaining. They also say they are poorly prepared to respond in the event of an Ebola outbreak, to which the California Hospital Association said the nurses' union is using the Ebola crisis to further its own agenda.

More than 200 nurses and nurse practitioners from the Redwood City Hospital joined the picket line to protest what they describe as the aggressive slashing of wages, retirement benefits and most importantly, an experienced nursing staff.

"What that means for the patient is less care. Less nurses equal less care. That is the bottom line," explained Cam Torres with the California Nurses Association.

Despite the strike, most appointments are being honored. Jame Lyon dropped his wife off with no problems. "They said they'd call back if there was a problem. They never called," he said.

The contract with the nurses ended in August and both parties agreed to extend it twice. It has now expired.

Those walking the line say travel nurses, those brought in to cover them during the strike, are not up to the job.

Frank Beirne, the Senior Vice President and area manager for Kaiser Permanente disagrees. He says the replacement nurses are certified in their specialty. "Those replacement nurses are highly experienced, highly skilled," he said.

Beirne adds, the claims that the hospital is cutting cost for profit is simply not true. He points to third new hospital Kaiser opened in the Bay Area this year as an example of how the non-profit is directing its resources. He says the nurses union must meet in the middle.

"Every dollar that comes into Kaiser Permanente goes for the care and treatment of our patients," said Beirne.

Close to 2,800 temporary nurses have been called in.

Wednesday will be the second day of their strike and coincides with National Day of Action organized by the National Nurses United in 16 states.

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