Union workers began a monthlong series of pickets in early May at Kaiser Permanente facilities across California, according to an article on the My News LA website.

The union accused Kaiser of boosting its bottom line while making cuts that could hurt patient care. Kaiser officials said the union’s claims “are exactly the opposite of what’s happening.”

“The changes we are working on will ultimately give our members and patients better service, at a lower cost, and help meet tougher government standards around controlled substances,” said John Nelson, vice president of communications for Kaiser Permanente.

Pickets were held at Kaiser Permanente South Bay in Harbor City, at the Baldwin Park hospital and West Los Angeles. Additional pickets are planned in coming weeks in the Antelope Valley, Downey, Los Angeles, Orange County, Panorama City and other hospitals around California.

The union said that the informational pickets are not a strike and will not affect patient care.

Read the article.