One-Day Walkout by Kaiser Staff Urged

With contract negotiations at a stalemate, the union that represents 12,000 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan employees is urging its members to reject the giant HMO’s final offer and stage a one-day walkout Thursday, the day their three-year contract expires.

The action appears, at least for the time being, to avert a threatened strike. Officials of the Service Employees International Union Local 399 say their members will return to work Friday while they and Kaiser attempt to resume negotiations.

The union, which represents janitors, cooks, X-ray technicians and other support staff, is seeking 5% raises each year for the next three years.