All too often, patients who come to Kaiser hospitals and clinics in Oregon and Southwest Washington face long waits, rushed appointments or cancellations. This should never happen, but it’s the reality.

Every day, health care workers are doing everything possible to keep compassion alive in a system that’s stretched to its breaking point. But no amount of dedication can overcome chronic understaffing, morale injury and the refusal of executives to listen to the people who actually provide the care (“ 4,000 Kaiser Permanente workers in Oregon, SW Washington walk off the job ,” Oct. 14).

For months, the 4,800 nurses and health care professionals represented by our union have been at the bargaining table, pushing Kaiser to agree to real solutions – safer staffing levels, competitive wages

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