The State - News from Oct. 31, 1986

Nearly 1,000 workers from other unions threatened to join 9,000 union members on strike against 27 hospitals of the Kaiser Permanente health care system in Northern California as the walkout went into its fourth day. Mediator Maggie Jacobsen said Local 39, Operating Engineers Union and the Northern California District Council of Carpenters told management they will begin honoring picket lines if there is no further progress in the contract dispute between Kaiser management and Local 250 of the Hospital and Institutional Workers. At least four strikers have been arrested since the strike began against Kaiser, which treats 2 million health plan enrollees. No talks have been held since the union walked out over a proposed wage freeze and a two-tiered wage system, and no new talks are scheduled.