Massive Strike: 75,000 Kaiser Permanente Workers Walk Out
In a historic move, over 75,000 employees of Kaiser Permanente, a leading not-for-profit health provider, initiated a strike, marking it as the largest health care worker strike in the history of the U.S.
The workers, spread across states like California, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Oregon, and Washington, DC, are part of a union coalition that represents 40% of Kaiser Permanente's workforce. The majority of these workers are based on the West Coast. The strike began early Wednesday morning and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday.
Despite intense bargaining sessions, a settlement between Kaiser Permanente and the union coalition remains elusive. However, Kaiser Permanente has indicated that some tentative agreements have been reached and expressed a commitment to resume negotiations soon.
This strike is part of a broader wave of labor movements across the U.S., with workers from various sectors demanding better pay and benefits. Health care workers, in particular, are advocating for safer working conditions, emphasizing that current staffing shortages are compromising patient care.
Among those participating in the strike are nurses, dietary workers, receptionists, optometrists, and pharmacists. The decision to strike followed the expiration of the workers' union contracts at the end of September.
While the current strike is temporary and set to end on October 7, there are indications from SEIU-UHW, the largest union in the coalition, that a more extended strike might be on the horizon in November if no agreement is reached.
The striking workers are highlighting their concerns about feeling overburdened due to staff shortages. Kaiser Permanente has responded by committing to hire 10,000 new union-represented employees by 2023.
Key demands from the union coalition include higher wages, a comprehensive strategy to address chronic staff shortages, protections against outsourcing, and advanced notice for remote workers transitioning back to in-person roles.
Wage negotiations remain a sticking point. While Kaiser Permanente has proposed location-dependent wage increases, the coalition is pushing for a uniform raise, arguing that the proposed increases do not match the rising cost of living.
Kaiser Permanente, in its defense, claims to be a leader in total compensation in all its operational markets.
Some agreements have been reached, including renewing outsourcing and subcontracting protections for many workers and providing a 60-day notice for remote staff transitioning to in-person roles.