Thousands of mental healthcare workers with Kaiser Permanente have been hitting the picket line all week. The strike enters day three Wednesday.

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

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.

More than 2,400 Kaiser Permanente psychologists, therapists, social workers and other mental health workers in Southern California have begun an open-ended strike over increased workloads and staffing shortages.

Almost 2,400 Kaiser Permanente mental health workers went on strike Monday in Southern California to demand better pay and more time to treat their patients. The system of care is “broken,” said the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which is representing the striking employees.

While workers are determined to win better conditions for patients and themselves, the NUHW has limited the strike to only a few select days and locations to disrupt workers’ unity.

More than 2,000 mental health workers at Southern California’s Kaiser Permanente hospital are planning to walk off the job, their union said.

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente mental health workers in Southern California are set to strike starting Monday, Oct. 21, after the union and Kaiser management did not reach an agreement. Daily picket lines and rallies will be held outside Kaiser facilities in Los Angeles,

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