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Morning Brief: Kaiser Strike, Zillow, And Sonic Drive-Ins
Kaiser Permanente nurses hold signs and use bullhorns on Nov. 10, 2021 in San Francisco.
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Justin Sullivan
/
Getty Images
)
Good morning, L.A. It’s Nov. 15.
Over the weekend, Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care workers narrowly averted a strike that would have affected hospitals throughout California.
Leaders of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals and United Steelworkers Local 7600 sent out an email to members informing them that an agreement had been reached with Kaiser, which included wage increases and increased transparency about staffing.
The agreement notably did not include a proposed two-tier wage system, which would have meant lower wages for future hires than for current employees. Hospital leadership pushed for the system, but the union rejected the idea.
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Kaiser nurses and other health care workers filed a 10-day notice last week indicating that they intended to stop work today if an agreement wasn’t reached. Negotiations had been ongoing for months.
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If the strike had gone through, 28,400 Kaiser health care providers would have walked out. Southern California would have been hit harder than any region in the state, with 366 facilities affected.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A., and stay safe out there.
What Else You Need To Know Today
- The L.A. City Council voted to explore ways of stopping companies like Zillow from purchasing single-family homes in L.A.
- Here’s what we know so far about the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Alec Baldwin film Rust.
- California’s drought is affecting some birds’ migration patterns.
- President Joe Biden may not be able to do much about skyrocketing gas prices.
Before You Go ... Here's Why There Are No Sonic Drive-Ins In LA City
Food is served at a Sonic restaurant on September 25, 2018 in Cicero, Illinois. (Photo Illustraton by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
For a city that drives so much, you'd think the beloved fast-food drive-up spot would be a shoe-in. But in L.A. County, the only Sonic locations are in Duarte, Pomona and Palmdale. From there, the closest one is in Anaheim. What gives?
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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