In a historic nationwide event, over 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and health care workers have begun a five-day strike across multiple states, including California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The strike, which kicked off amidst heavy rain, aims to address urgent issues surrounding wages, staffing shortages, and benefits as workers seek a significant wage increase over a proposed four-year contract. Thousands of health care professionals are expected to participate, disrupting medical services in various regions, including Northern California and San Diego County. Kaiser Permanente has called the strike unnecessary and disruptive, while unions emphasize the need for immediate action to resolve ongoing workplace crises.