LOS ANGELES -- More than 2,400 Kaiser Permanente psychologists, therapists, social workers and other mental health workers in Southern California began an open-ended strike Monday over increased workloads and staffing shortages that their union said have created a “substandard” system of care. The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents the employees, is negotiating a new contract with the Oakland-based health giant. It said the strikers demand Kaiser hire more people to ease the burden put on the current staff.
Kaiser said in a statement Monday that the union has been “slow-walking” negotiations, despite the strong proposals the health care company has put on the table. Meanwhile, the union’s proposals “have been overreaching and unreasonable,” the statement said. Picket lines went up outside Kaiser facilities in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.
Antonia Rodarte, a licensed marriage and family therapist for Kaiser, traveled to LA for the work action with about 35 colleagues from Bakersfield, California. “We are seeing that burnout is getting worse and worse among our colleagues. People are quitting.
They can't keep up with the workload,” said Rodarte. “Kaiser is emphasizing numbers of patients to be seen over quality of care.” Natalie Espinoza, a psychiatric counselor, said Kaiser facilities in Southern California are “understaffed and overworked.
” She said she sees up to 10 patients a day, routinely works th.