Unite Here Local 5, fresh off a one-day walkout and picket at a Kaiser Permanente clinic in Honolulu, is set to strike again—this time on Maui.

The union that represents nearly 1,800 health care workers at the state's largest health maintenance organization said yesterday it will conduct a one-day walkout at the Wailuku and Maui Lani clinics beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday.

Unlike the Honolulu strike last week, which was to protest Kaiser's plans to subcontract mail-order pharmacy work to Colorado, this strike is more general and is about job security, according to Local 5 spokesman Cade Watanabe.

Kaiser and Local 5 have been negotiating on a new contract for cashiers, reservationists, medical assistants and housekeeping.

“;This strike on Maui is all about our ability to secure good jobs in our communities,”; he said. “;Our strike is about protecting these jobs and having the good job security we need to help make Kaiser succeed.”;

Spokeswoman Lynn Kenton of Kaiser reiterated that none of the 18 pharmacy workers singled out during last week's strike will be losing their jobs, and only a portion of their work will be shifted to Colorado.

“;Kaiser Permanente has spent the last two to three years under new leadership being very strategic and focusing on key areas to ensure that we retain our members and grow membership, which ensures jobs for our current employees and new jobs for the people of Hawaii in the future,”; Kenton said.

She said Kaiser has contacted all members who had appointments Thursday at the Wailuku and Maui Lani clinics to tell them that it will be business as usual.

“;We're doing everything we can to ensure that these Local 5 strikes don't impact patient care,”; she said.