3,000 Kaiser pharmacy, lab workers will end their strike this week

More than 3,000 pharmacy and lab workers with the United Food and Commercial Workers union in Southern California are ending their three-day strike against Kaiser Permanente on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Their return to work still leaves the bulk of the health care giant’s 31,000 registered nurses and health care workers on strike.

The UFCW locals in Southern California — which gave a 10-notice of their intent to strike on Jan. 29 — represent Kaiser’s pharmacy assistants and technicians, clinical lab scientists, medical lab technicians, and clinical and administrative workers at Southern California medical facilities.

The contract covering pharmacy employees expired Nov. 1, while the contract covering union clinical and medical laboratory specialists expired Feb. 1.

Also see: 3,000 pharmacy and lab workers will join Kaiser’s nurses strike

In statements issued Tuesday evening, the UFCW locals and Kaiser confirmed the pharmacy and lab workers would return to work 5 a.m. Thursday.

In an email to members, the unions said they would continue to push Kaiser to continue to negotiate a fair contract. Talks collapsed between the two sides in December.

In the past week, Kaiser reported that som...