Kaiser Permanente healthcare works go on strike

(NBC, KYMA) - Ten of thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers walked off the job Tuesday to go on strike.

Between now and Saturday, October 19, around 43-to-46,000 members of the Alliance of Health Care Union will strike on the West Coast, mainly in California, Hawaii, and Oregon.

This includes registered nurses, pharmacists, midwives and physician assistants among other staff.

Union members are demanding better pay, safe staffing and a stronger voice for caregivers in workplace decisions.

Kaiser says its hospitals and medical offices will remain open during the strike, and up to 7,600 nurses, clinicians and other staff will be brought in to take up critical jobs

Kaiser is also shifting their appointments from in-person to virtual and rescheduling other appointments or procedures.

To learn more about the strike, read the union's statement here.