Thousands of unionized Kaiser Permanente registered nurses and other health professionals are set to begin a five-day strike Tuesday in California and Hawaii amid ongoing contract negotiations — though Kaiser officials said affected facilities will remain open with some adjustments.

Workers represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals are expected to begin picketing at 7 a.m. at locations including the Kaiser South Bay Medical Center in Harbor City; Kaiser Woodland Hills Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley; and Kaiser Baldwin Park Medical Center in South Los Angeles.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders is scheduled to greet striking workers at Kaiser Downey Medical Center at 3 p.m.

Affected workers include registered nurses, pharmacists,

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