As many as 18,000 nurses have walked off the job and are picketing in front of Northern California K

Описание: (12 Nov 2014) As many as 18,000 nurses went on strike Tuesday and picketed in front of Kaiser Permanente facilities in Northern California to express their concerns about patient-care standards and Ebola.
The nurses, who are in the midst of contract negotiations, held red and yellow "strike for health and safety" picket signs. The two-day strike was expected to affect at least 21 Kaiser hospitals and 35 clinics and last until 7 a.m. Thursday.
Union officials said nurses are striking over claims there has been an erosion of patient-care standards in Kaiser facilities for months and that the company has failed to adopt optimal safeguards for Ebola.
Kaiser said calling a strike now, "just as we are entering flu season, and when the nation and our members are concerned about the risk of Ebola, seems particularly irresponsible."
"The fact is, the various reasons the union leaders are giving for walking out are not supported by the facts - either in our medical centers or at the bargaining table," Kaiser said in a statement.
The health care provider said it is well-equipped to handle any potential Ebola cases.
Kaiser will remain open during the strike, though some elective procedures and routine appointments may be rescheduled, company officials said. Replacement nurses are in place, union officials said.
The association is working with federal, state and local agencies to assure the public that universal precautions are in place to screen and identify infectious diseases, Emerson-Shea said.
There are no confirmed cases of Ebola in California.

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