An estimated 4,500 health care workers for Kaiser Permanente in San Diego County thousands of others nationwide began a three-day strike Wednesday morning in what their union says in the largest health care workers strike in U.S. history.
Contract negotiations that lasted into the night failed to produce an agreement that would have averted the strike.
According to a statement from Kaiser late Tuesday "several agreements over specific provisions have been reached" with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, and the health system's negotiators are prepared to meet around the clock "until we reach a fair and equitable agreement" and avoid a strike..
The statement from Kaiser officials said, "There has been a lot of progress, with agreements reached on several specific proposals late Tuesday. We remain committed to reaching a new agreement that continues to provide our employees with market-leading wages, excellent benefits, generous retirement income plans, and valuable professional development opportunities."
The planned three-day strike does not include doctors. Kaiser officials say hospitals and emergency rooms will remain open but some elective procedures and surgeries may be rescheduled.
(Photo local reporting partner 10News)