A MASSIVE strike by about 31,000 striking nurses entered its third week today.

The nurses, members of the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, walked out on January 26 attempting to secure a new contract with Oakland based Kaiser Permanente.

The two sides appear to remain far apart in negotiations over the contract.

The strike appears to be biting on Kaiser services as the employer reported that some of its pharmacies and labs were temporarily closed due to the strike.

Rather than moving to resolve the dispute Kaiser has entered into a war of words with the union claiming without evidence this week that more than 35 per cent of the striking nurses and healthcare professionals — or just under 8,000 — have returned to work, with as many as 55 per cent of strike staff back at work in some locations.

But Kaiser spokesman Terry Kanakri declined to identify the medical facilities where the highest volume of returning workers are located.

The union disputed Kaiser’s claims that its members had crossed picket lines and returned to work.

Kaiser also claims that some of the striking employees are afraid to return to work for fear of intimidation.

“That claim is false,” according to a UNAC/UHCP statement. “Our union has not threatened, intimidated, or retaliated against caregivers.”

Claudia Mayorga, a pharmacy assistant at a Kaiser facility on Dalen Street in Downey, said “no-one has crossed picket lines. The strike is important for all of us, for our future.”

Kaiser and the UNAC/UHCP are negotiating to replace a five-year contract for 31,000 members that expired September 30. The union wants a 25 per cent pay rise over four years and more employees hired to fill staffing shortages. Kaiser has offered a 21.5 per cent.