Monday marked the first day of a week-long strike for Kaiser Permanente mental health workers across California.
The health care provider's 2,600 psychologists, therapists and social workers joined the picket lines. They claim Kaiser has added new patients through the Affordable Care Act, but hasn't increased its psychiatric resources.
“Kaiser has taken on hundreds of thousands of new patients. In the meantime, they have not kept up with this growth in membership by hiring more of us to take care of the mental health needs of the members of Kaiser Permanente said Steve Ode, the union shop steward.
The union claims some patients have to wait up to two months for follow-up appointments, which prolongs the recovery process.
“Kaiser purports to be the leader in health care, but it's continuing the history of discrimination against the mentally ill, and that's unacceptable to us,'' said Jim Clifford, a union member and San Diego psychiatric therapist.
The mental health workers are represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which has been unable to reach a contract agreement with Kaiser since the union formed five years ago.
Wearing red T-shirts and holding signs that read "Fair Wages Now'' and "Social Workers for Quality Care,'' mental health workers picketed outside dozens of Kaiser medical centers throughout California and vowed to continue their strike through next Monday.
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John Nelson, Kaiser's vice president of government relations, denied there is a shortage of mental health staff. He said the health plan has increased staffing statewide by 25 percent in the past three years, while membership grew by 8 percent during the same period.
He said the false claims are part of the union's bargaining tactic.
"They think that attacking Kaiser Permanente's reputation will get them a better contract,'' Nelson said. "It's frustrating, it's disappointing, but it's their strategy.''
He said that appointments are being rescheduled and that during the strike, psychiatrists on staff will treat patients in crisis or with an emergency.
Kaiser said in a statement it is "urging our employees to resist the call to leave members and their patients for the weeklong strike called by NUHW."
Meanwhile, more than 18,000 Kaiser nurses and nurse practitioners in Northern and Central California are planning to strike Jan. 21-22.
The nurses say Kaiser has cut hospital services, restricted admission of patients and has discharged patients who still need care, The Oakland Tribune reported.
The walkout will affect all 86 Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics.
The workers, who are part of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Association, are striking to protest what they call "a growing erosion of patient care standards,'' according to a news release.
Nurses held a two-day strike in November. The union and Kaiser are in contract talks, and the health provider has said it's hopeful about reaching a fair agreement.
