More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care workers walked off the job early Monday, launching an open-ended strike across California and Hawaii that could disrupt operations at dozens of hospitals and hundreds of clinics.
The workers, represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, say the strike was triggered by what they describe as unfair labor practices and Kaiser’s refusal to return to national bargaining talks.
The strike began at 7 a.m. and has no scheduled end date.
“We will continue to push Kaiser to stop their egregious unfair labor practices against the frontline workers who deliver the best care for their patients and billions in profit to do the right thing, and come back to the table to bargain in good faith,” the union bargaining committee said in a statement.
The Northern California hospitals with picket lines Monday were the Oakland, Santa Clara and Roseville (Placer County) medical centers.
Hundreds of nurses were picketing on Broadway in front of the Oakland Medical Center on Monday morning, holding signs that read “On strike for our patients” and “Patients before profits. Pay us fairly!” as passing cars honked their horns in support.
Arezou Mansourian, a physician assistant on the bargaining team, said Kaiser has been unable to retain and recruit providers, which is impacting patient care. Medical staff have been leaving Kaiser for higher-paying jobs at other local hospitals, Mansourian said.
“Our biggest issue is patient care, which is why everyone gets into the health care profession – to be able to take of patients, and (Kaiser is) impeding our ability to do that,” Mansourian said.
Mansourian said Kaiser was punishing union members for bargaining and organizing by decreasing their benefits and trying to decrease their pension. She said Kaiser’s offer to increase wages by 21.5% over four years was unacceptable.
She said the union’s fight for better working conditions will ultimately help patients as well.
“We know it’s a pain right now, but it’s so that we can take care of you better in the future,” she said.
Deborah Zwinger and Amy Zhou, both certified registered nurse anesthetists, said they want Kaiser to negotiate with the union in good faith for a contract, which they’ve been negotiating for two years.
“We’re essential workers, but we’re not being treated like essential workers at Kaiser,” Zwinger said.
The walkout marks the union’s second major strike in recent months. In October, thousands of Kaiser workers staged a five-day strike after negotiations over wages, staffing levels and working conditions stalled. Talks resumed but broke down again in mid-December.
Union leaders say Kaiser suspended national bargaining and attempted to bypass the agreed-upon negotiation process, prompting the Alliance of Health Care Unions – a coalition representing about 62,000 Kaiser employees – to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
Kaiser disputes that account. In a statement Sunday, the company said UNAC/UHCP has agreed to return to local bargaining, even as the union moves forward with the strike. Kaiser says it paused national bargaining in December following what it described as a threatening incident involving a union official.
“Illegal threats are a line that cannot be crossed,” Greg Holmes, Kaiser’s chief human resources officer, said in a statement. “This union official’s actions have compromised the national bargaining process and undermined both parties’ ability to continue good-faith bargaining.”
Kaiser has offered a 21.5% wage increase over four years, arguing that its employees already earn significantly more than peers at other health systems. Union leaders are seeking a 25% increase and say chronic understaffing is driving burnout and threatening patient care.
Union leaders say Kaiser suspended national bargaining and attempted to bypass the agreed-upon negotiation process, prompting the Alliance of Health Care Unions – a coalition representing about 62,000 Kaiser employees – to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
Kaiser disputes that account. In a statement Sunday, the company said UNAC/UHCP has agreed to return to local bargaining, even as the union moves forward with the strike. Kaiser says it paused national bargaining in December following what it described as a threatening incident involving a union official.
“Illegal threats are a line that cannot be crossed,” Greg Holmes, Kaiser’s chief human resources officer, said in a statement. “This union official’s actions have compromised the national bargaining process and undermined both parties’ ability to continue good-faith bargaining.”
Kaiser has offered a 21.5% wage increase over four years, arguing that its employees already earn significantly more than peers at other health systems. Union leaders are seeking a 25% increase and say chronic understaffing is driving burnout and threatening patient care.