Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente health care workers in California and Hawaii began a strike on Monday. They’re demanding better staffing, fair pay, and timely patient care. The walkout started at 7 a.m. and involves around 31,000 workers, including nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, and others.
Union leaders claim Kaiser has not made sufficient progress in contract negotiations. “We’ve been at the bargaining table for nearly a year,” said Charmaine S. Morales, an RN and the president of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. “We want fair wages that help with recruiting and retaining staff. Access to patient care and manageable workloads are also critical.”
Many nurses shared that they are overwhelmed with their current patient load. One nurse expressed frustration about long emergency room wait times: “People sit for hours because we don’t have enough staff to care for them.”
The union has also filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. They allege that Kaiser left the bargaining table last December and didn’t follow established negotiation processes. These discussions have been ongoing since last May.
Pickets are planned at various locations, including:
- Anaheim Medical Center
- Downey Medical Center
- South Bay Medical Center
- Los Angeles Medical Center
- West Los Angeles Medical Center
- Baldwin Park Medical Center
- Panorama City Medical Center
- Woodland Hills Medical Center
In response, Kaiser states that it has proposed its strongest-ever compensation package, a 21.5% wage increase. The company claims its employees already earn more than those in comparable roles at other organizations. They maintain that they are committed to ensuring high-quality care for patients while recognizing their staff’s contributions.
Kaiser assures that hospitals will remain open during the strike, although some non-urgent procedures may be postponed, and pharmacy hours could be affected.
Interestingly, the strike reflects ongoing trends in health care labor movements. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that union membership in health care has been rising, with many workers advocating for similar issues: adequate staffing and better pay. Social media interactions around this strike show robust support from the public, with many sharing their own experiences related to overwhelmed healthcare systems.
For more detailed information on labor relations and union rights, you can visit the National Labor Relations Board.
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