Kaiser mental health workers start one-week strike

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente mental health workers and other staff are kicking off a week-long strike Monday at facilities across the state.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers says it called the strike because Kaiser does not have enough mental health staff to treat patients in a timely manner. More than 3,000 of the union’s members - including Kaiser psychologists, therapists and social workers, among others - are expected to walk out.

John Nelson, Kaiser vice-president of government relations, said management has been rescheduling mental health appointments and diverting patients who must be seen to other departments. He said all departments will remain open during the seven-day strike.

Nelson called the union's accusations of inadequate staffing misleading, and characterized the strike as a negotiating tactic. Kaiser and the union are currently in contract talks.

Two years ago the state cited Kaiser for making mental health patients wait too long for appointments, and fined it $4 million.  Kaiser appealed the penalty, but eventually dropped its appeal last fall and paid the fine.

Nelson said Kaiser is addressing the problem, asserting that it has hired "hundreds" more mental health clinicians, and continues to improve services. 

"We’ve addressed those concerns, we’ve continue to make improvements," Nelson said. "We are able to meet patients’ needs."

Kaiser has asked union members to let management know if they are going to stay away from work, so patients' appointments can be rescheduled.  He said no emergency care, mental health or physical, will be impacted by the strike.

A follow-up survey by the state Department of Managed Health Care on Kaiser’s progress on the mental health staffing issue is expected later this month.