Mental health workers in Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles have been raised for almost six months. In order to break through their messages, some have started hunger strike.
Michel Martin, host:
Kaiser Permanente’s strikes by Los Angeles’ mental health therapist are dragged to six months. This week, eight people have been raised to a new level of hunger strikes. NPR’s Katia RidDle visited the picket line.
(Sound bytes of demonstrations)
Unidentified protesters: (song) One more day.
Unidentified protesters #1: (song) Someday it’s stronger.
Katia RidDle, Byline: There are dozens of people who sing and protest out of this Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in busy Sunset Boulevard. But a small number of noticeable workers are sitting quietly under the tent to preserve their energy. They are on strike for five days. Adriana Webb comes to confirm and talks with the nurse.
Adriana Webb: Similarly, I felt like I was feeling some chills. And I like it, Googled it, and said it could be the cause.
David Verdiner: So -a little early.
Web: Good.
Verdiner: But it can be slightly low in your blood sugar.
Web: Good.
Mystery: Nurse David Verdiner is from a union other than a strike. He volunteered for medical supervision for these strikers.
Verdiner: The bigger thing is that you feel good today.
Webb: Yes.
Verdiner: But your body is withdrawn. You are used to eating three meals a day.
Webb: Yes.
Mystery: These workers spend more time between colleagues and patients working in other types of medical services. AIDA VALDIVIA is a license therapist.
AIDA VALDIVIA: Kia’s strikes were more expanded to tell us that we were serious.
Mystery: She says that many workers in strike are already sacrificed, saved, going to food banks, and borrowing money. This is a way to disclose their pain more.
Valdivia: Anyway we had to limit food. Basically, you are hungry for us, Kaiser.
Mystery: One of the people here is Sal Rosselli. He is the former president of the National Medical Trade Union. He reads in his mark.
Sal Rosselli: The same company, the same thing. Why is it not the same wage, pension, or dose?
Mystery: Mental health parity shortage is a national problem. According to a recent report, people who care for psychologists were 10 times more likely to pay more money from the network. California has passed some parity methods and has been congratulated as a leader of mental health. Roselli said it was time for the state medical institution to show their dedication to the cause.
This hunger strike demonstration on the absolute devotion to Rosselli: Kaiser will eventually have a national impact in terms of parity, and that year will come from where there is no term mental health care. It is simply health care.
Mystery: Kaiser Permanente Management is paying attention. Patti Clausen is vice president of southern California.
Patti Clausen: It is very confusing for us to ride hunger for employees.
RidDle: Clausen argues that Kaiser Permanente pays money to mental health care workers, even if it is not the same wages as colleagues. Clausen says he wants to keep saying.
Clausen: We are trying to find something in common for all of us.
Mystery: Outside the medical center, the striker has a special guest. After all, this is not a celebrity without a celebrity.
(Sound bytes of stored recording)
Tom Morello: My name is Tom Morello.
(Cheering)
Morello: … and I am a union man.
Mystery: The long member of the band is a RAGE member for the machine. He stopped to support the fast concertro strikers.
(Sound bytes of stored recording)
Morello: (Strumming guitar) When I say it is unity, you say power. union.
Unidentified protesters #2: (song) Power.
Morello: (Strumming Other) Union.
Unidentified protesters #2: (song) Power.
Mystery: Morello leaves this message.
(Sound bytes of stored recording)
Morello: So, as you know, my belief that the future of the working class of this country will not be determined by Congress. It will not be determined in the court. It will be determined by the solidarity of people like you on this day.
Mystery: Protest can work, he says. But it means to endure some pain and discomfort, in which case hunger.
Katia RidDle, NPR News, Los Angeles.
(Soundbite of anger for “Wake Up” of the machine
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