PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington hit the picket lines again on Friday as part of a national coordinated strike.

A Kaiser employee told KOIN 6 News that negotiations with the organization have not been smooth.

"We are asking for a fair contract that keeps up with inflation," said Sarah Long, a clinical social worker. "They have refused to come back to the bargaining table with us until after the strike, so there's been no progress."

The five-day strike started on Tuesday with a set end date of Sunday morning.

Workers are represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP). They are asking Kaiser for safer staffing levels, fair wages, as well as a contract that outlines their workload

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