The Region - News from Aug. 2, 1985

A strike action involving psychologists, social workers, drug counselors and and other mental health employees began at eight Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program facilities in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The strike involves 323 full- and part-time employee members of Local 535 of the Service Employees International Union, whose contract has expired. A principal issue, according to union field representative David Bullock, is Kaiser’s final wage offer, which he said was “lower than wages agreed upon by other unionized employees in the Kaiser system and lower than those granted to non-union employees.” Janice Seib, spokeswoman for the Kaiser facilities, refused comment but said the strike had “not had a significant impact,” as only outpatient services are affected.