18,000 Nurses Go on Strike In California Over Ebola and Contract Issues

Nurses in Northern California will go on a two-day strike starting Nov. 11 as they fear that training and equipment standards are not adequate for them to deal with the Ebola virus.

Nearly 18,000 nurses will join the strike on 'National Day of Action' to demand better facilities for themselves and patients.

A spokesman for the National Nurses United said that the strike would affect 21 hospitals and 65 clinics owned by Kaiser Permanente based in Oakland. Nurses at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital and Watsonville Community Hospital also will join them, according to the union.

The union's contract with nonprofit Kaiser expired in August and was extended until October, reports Bloomberg.

The union statements says, "Kaiser continued to stonewall on dozens of proposals to improve patient care standards, as well as refusing to address the concern of Kaiser RNs about Ebola safety protocols and protective equipment, refusing to even answer questions by the RNs."

But Kaiser denies any negligence on its part over preparedness. "The fact is Kaiser Permanente teams have been working on preparations for Ebola nonstop. We are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of each nurse, physician and staff member who may be called upon to provide compassionate, high-quality care for a patient with the Ebola virus," the medical care provider said in a statement, reports Mercury News.

The strike aims to address some other issues including filling of about 2,000 vacant nursing positions; Increasing training and education;  and providing protections for use of sick leave and more flexibility over breaks, reports Mercury News.