Healthcare workers in California, Hawaii go on strike

On Tuesday, over 30,000 Kaiser Permanente workers, including RNs, physician assistants, rehab therapists, and other frontline workers, started a five-day strike in California and Hawaii, with the number of workers participating potentially increasing to 46,000. The strike will last until 7 a.m. on Sunday.

The workers are represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). Over the last few months, UNAC/UHCP has been in contract negotiations with Kaiser over increased wages, staffing, and other changes. However, the union's collective bargaining agreements with Kaiser expired Sept. 30.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the union has requested a 25% increase in wages over the next four years to compensate for smaller increases negotiated in their 2021 contracts. The union has also asked for increased staffing to combat worker shortages and burnout.

"We've been really clear, our workers are trying to keep up and catch up with the cost of inflation," said UNAC/UHCP president Charmaine Morales. "… We need to be able to hire more permanent staff. We're looking for long-term solutions to staffing burnout."

"Our union made repeated attempts to reach a fair agreement. This dispute centers on staffing levels, respect for professional expertise, and patient safety — not just pay," the union said in a statement. "This strike is about protecting the future of patient care."

"Anything beyond [a 21.5% pay increase] will require us to further increase rates for our members and customers, at a time when health care costs are increasingly unaffordable and many of them are having to make the difficult choice to go without coverage," Kaiser said.

Kaiser also noted that its staffing ratios meet or exceed all California-mandated nurse-to-patient ratios and that it "has been proactive in hiring and retaining staff to ensure we deliver the care our patients expect and deserve."

During the strike, the health system said its hospitals and most of its medical offices would remain open, though some appointments are being shifted to virtual visits or rescheduled as necessary. Kaiser has also hired 7,600 temporary nurses, clinicians, and other staff. It also noted that 1,000 employees have volunteered to be reassigned to work at strike locations.

"We remain committed to bargaining in good faith for a fair agreement that balances fair pay with high-quality, affordable care," Kaiser said. "We'll continue to provide the care our members rely on while honoring employees and protecting patients."