Thousands of Kaiser Permanente union nurses and healthcare workers donned raincoats and bullhorns as they launched a five-day strike Tuesday during a strong Pacific storm that swept across Southern California .

At the Kaiser Medical Center in Ontario, more than 600 people formed a picket line along Vineyard Avenue. Many of the striking workers complained about replacements the healthcare company hired to fill their jobs for the week.

“It’s a slap in the face for every nurse who is here striking for better working conditions and better wages,” said nurse Jennifer Cabrera, who has worked at Kaiser in Ontario since 2011. “About 100 nurses were brought to Ontario by Uber from a Los Angeles hotel, many of who had flown in from the Midwest.”

On Monday, Kaiser officials said the healthcare c

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