x
Breaking News
More () »

Oregon and Washington imaging workers join Kaiser Permanente strike

The imaging workers join Oregon and Washington pharmacy technicians on the picket line in early November.

Kaiser Permanente imaging workers will join pharmacy technicians in a strike protesting "unfair labor practices" beginning in November. 

Last week, Kaiser Permanente had reached a breakthrough in negotiations with the 75,000 workers who staged a three-day strike across Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Virginia and Washington D.C. However, the tentative deal did not cover a separate group of Oregon and Southeast Washington pharmacy technicians who are undertaking their own strike.

MORE OREGON PICKET LINES: Portland Public Schools teachers union votes to authorize strike

At the time, imaging workers had not joined them because they were on a separate contract that had not expired. That contract, however, ends Nov. 1 — and thus, they are now able to take action. 

United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 555 informed Kaiser Permanente of the imaging workers' strike Thursday, according to a statement from the union. They will begin striking on Nov. 1 at 6 a.m. and will end Nov. 18 at 3 p.m., according to Miles Eshaia of UFCW Local 555. 

Imagining workers include those who work in services such as X-ray, mammography, MRI, CT, sonographers and radiation therapists.

In a statement, Kaiser Permanente noted that it hoped to avoid a strike, describing the notice as "disappointing" and adding that they are interested in "returning to the bargaining table as soon as possible." 

This is a developing story and may be updated with more details as they emerge.

Follow KGW on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Download the KGW News app: Download for iPhone here | Download for Android here

Stream newscasts for free on KGW+ on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV: How to add app to your device here

See a typo in this article? Email web@kgw.com for corrections.

Before You Leave, Check This Out