About 5,800 Sharp nurses and health care professionals launched a three-day strike Wednesday morning, calling for better wages, staffing levels and sick leave policies. Picket lines formed at sunrise outside three Sharp hospitals across San Diego County.

Union members are represented by the Sharp Professional Nurses Network.

“We're striking for much needed improvements to our work environment, improvements that we feel are going to allow us to provide better patient care to the residents of San Diego,” said Andre Gatewood, a speech language pathologist at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center.

Many workers are struggling with the region’s high cost of living, Gatewood said.

“Many of us are being paid wages that don’t even allow us to afford a simple one-bedroom apartment in San Diego County

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