More than 2,400 Kaiser Permanente psychologists, therapists, social workers and other mental health workers in Southern California began an open-ended strike Monday over increased workloads and staffing shortages that their union said have created a “substandard” system of care.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers said nearly 2,400 mental health workers launched the job action after Kaiser Permanente management turned down their proposals.

Thousands of mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities spanning across Southern California went on strike on Monday, calling for increased pay and restored pension plans, amid other demands.

Nearly 2,400 mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities from San Diego to Bakersfield are poised to strike Monday.

More than 2,000 unionized psychologists, therapists and other mental health professionals at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California plan to launch an indefinite strike Monday amid complaints that the massive system has failed to address problems with how it provides mental health care.

Unionized mental health workers in Southern California began their strike on Monday to demand better pay, benefits and more staffing.

More than 2,000 unionized mental health workers in Southern California went on strike against Kaiser Permanente on Monday after the two sides failed to reach a new labor agreement.

We want to be with our patients, not on a picket line, but we can’t keep working in a system that treats mental health care like an assembly line job,” said a therapist for the

Robert Garrova discusses why Kaiser employees walked off the job and their goals.

Nearly 2,400 mental health workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities went on strike Monday amid contract talks and allegations of a “broken” system of care, while Kaiser officials say the union has been “slow walking” the negotiation process and planned to strike before labor talks even began.

The union says there is a “broken” system of care at Kaiser, while management claims the union has been “slow walking” the negotiation process.