Mental health workers on strike in Southern California say Kaiser Permanente is woefully understaffed, its therapists are burned out, and patients are often denied timely access to care. The insurer says it has largely fixed the problem.

The union reports that the strike has left thousands of Kaiser patients facing long waits and canceled appointments. Mediation talks could begin as early as February 17.

Kaiser’s public comments about the negotiations have been strident and consistent. The health giant’s most recent update, emailed to Capital & Main by a spokesperson, reiterated long-established talking points that the union is exacerbating the problem by not accepting Kaiser’s terms.