Push For Reparations For Black Californians Continues Despite Setbacks | KQED

"The election will take place on August 4. That's later than the June date many observers expected, which would have coincided with the state's already scheduled primary election. And it leaves a currently safe Republican House seat vacant for at least the next six months. The winner of the special election would serve for only a few months, before having to run in a newly redrawn congressional district."

"The union representing 31,000 nurses, rehab therapists, pharmacists and other specialty health care professionals at Kaiser Permanente plans to go on an open-ended strike at hospitals and clinics across California and Hawaii. After both sides hit a wall in their months-long contract talks, the walkout is set to begin Jan. 26 at nearly 20 Kaiser hospitals and 200 clinics, with no end in sight. "We will be on strike until we reach an agreement," said Brian Mason, a negotiator for the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. He warned that the strike will likely cause delayed or canceled surgeries and appointments."

"UNAC/UHCP is part of an alliance of health care unions negotiating with Kaiser for a new set of national and local contracts. In October, about 61,000 members of the alliance staged a five-day, multi-state strike to demand wage and staffing increases. Talks resumed after the walkout, but they broke down in mid-December when Kaiser negotiators accused UNAC/UHCP leaders of not bargaining in good faith."

The special election will occur on August 4, later than the expected June date, leaving a currently safe Republican House seat vacant for at least six months. The winner of the special election will serve only a few months before needing to run in a newly redrawn congressional district. The union representing 31,000 Kaiser Permanente specialty health professionals plans an open-ended strike across California and Hawaii beginning Jan. 26 at nearly 20 hospitals and 200 clinics, likely causing delayed or canceled surgeries and appointments. Contract talks previously stalled after a large October alliance strike and accusations of bad-faith bargaining.

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