IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
The strike by 31,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers has ended, at least for now.
Union officials representing those workers announced Oct. 19 that the walkout had been called off after five days, even though an agreement has not been reached, according to multiple reports.
In a joint statement, the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals said enough progress has been made during negotiations to allow their members to go back to work, at least temporarily.
“This strike may be over, but the fight for patient safety is not,” the statement reads. “Caregivers are returning to work united, energized, and ready to keep up the pressure for a fair contract that puts patients first.”
Talks are scheduled to resume Oct. 22 and Oct. 23.
Union members are asking for a 25 percent wage increase spread over the next four years, more staff hirings and a stop to the use of non-union nurses, according to reports.
