GEORGE F. LEE / OCT. 14 Kaiser Permanente employees began the first day of a five day strike action on Tuesday. Pharmacy workers waved to honking motorists along Pensacola Street. Union representatives will return to the bargaining table with Kaiser on Oct. 28 and 29.

GEORGE F. LEE / OCT. 14 Kaiser Permanente employees began the first day of a five day strike action on Tuesday. Pharmacy workers waved to honking motorists along Pensacola Street. Union representatives will return to the bargaining table with Kaiser on Oct. 28 and 29.

About 31, 000 Kaiser Permanente registered nurses and health care professionals in Hawaii and California represented by the United Nurses Associations of California /Union of Health Care Professionals ended their five-day strike Saturday, pledging to continue their push for safe staffing and stronger patient care protections.

The strike, which began Tuesday at more than 500 Kaiser hospitals and clinics, drew support from patients, community members and elected officials. Union leaders said the action coincided with new Joint Commission standards that classify safe staffing as a patient safety requirement -- a shift they say strengthens their bargaining position.

"The Joint Commission has finally said what nurses have known all along : unsafe staffing is unsafe care, " UNAC /UHCP President Charmaine S. Morales said in a news release. "Employers like Kaiser can no longer treat staffing like a budget line. It's now a national patient safety mandate -- and UNAC /UHCP will make sure it's enforced."

Union representatives will return to the bargaining table with Kaiser on Oct. 28 and 29, citing renewed momentum and broad public backing.

"We stood strong for five days and made sure the world heard us, " Morales said. "This strike wasn't just about numbers on a contract -- it was about the right to provide safe care to every patient who walks through those doors."

See more :

1 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our.