Thousands of nurses and health care workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities in the Los Angeles region are preparing to join a significant strike involving 31,000 personnel across California and Hawaii, which is set to commence at 7 a.m. on Monday. The strike is organized by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), representing a diverse group of health care workers including registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and clinicians, among others.
Charmaine S. Morales, RN and president of UNAC/UHCP, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We’re not going on strike to make noise. We’re striking because Kaiser has committed serious unfair labor practices and refuses to bargain in good faith regarding staffing that protects patients, workload standards that prevent moral injury, and the respect and dignity that caregivers have been denied for too long.”
The union claims that Kaiser has not engaged in constructive negotiations, having walked away from negotiations in December, and has filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board over alleged unfair labor practices. Bargaining between the union and Kaiser has been ongoing since May of the previous year.
Picket lines will be present at various Kaiser hospitals and clinics not just in Southern California, but also in Northern and Central California as well as Hawaii. Specific locations for the pickets in the Los Angeles area include the Anaheim Medical Center, Downey Medical Center, and the Los Angeles Medical Center in East Hollywood, among others.
Kaiser Permanente has responded to the impending strike by affirming its commitment to ensuring safe, high-quality care for patients. The organization has proposed a wage increase of 21.5%, its most substantial bargaining offer to date, and expressed its dedication to finalizing agreements that benefit both employees and patients.
Kaiser has prepared operational plans for the strike, indicating that all hospitals and medical offices will remain open. However, it acknowledged possible closures for some pharmacies and may need to reschedule nonurgent appointments and elective surgeries. Patients are encouraged not to cancel or change their appointments unless contacted by the organization.
As both sides remain entrenched in their positions, the outcomes of this strike could have far-reaching implications for the health care system in the affected areas, as well as for patient care standards moving forward. The situation reflects a broader ongoing struggle for health care workers’ rights and equitable treatment within the industry.