Kaiser Permanente employees strike for better pay and increased staffing.
OAKLAND, Calif.—Nation’s Largest Health Care Strike Sees 75,000 Kaiser Permanente Workers Demand Change
An estimated 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers took to the streets on October 4, demanding better staffing levels and higher wages. Nurses, medical technicians, and other healthcare professionals picketed at numerous Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical offices across seven states and the District of Columbia.
Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions Fights for Fair Labor Agreement
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, representing workers in multiple states, began negotiations with the company in April. However, they were unable to reach a new labor agreement before the contract expired on September 30.
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The strike is expected to last for three days.
Caroline Lucas, executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, expressed readiness to resume negotiations with Kaiser executives.
Ms. Lucas stated in a press release the day before the strike that frontline healthcare workers are willing to sit down with Kaiser executives to bargain in good faith. However, no agreement can be reached until Kaiser executives stop engaging in unfair labor practices.
“Patients and workers need immediate action to address the Kaiser short staffing crisis and ensure patient safety,” she added.
The company expressed disappointment over the strike and acknowledged that there may be longer wait times due to high call volumes. However, Kaiser assured patients that their care remains a top priority and contingency plans are in place to ensure safe and high-quality care.
While some outpatient pharmacies may have reduced hours, hospital pharmacies and crucial services will continue operating, according to Kaiser.
At Kaiser’s Oakland hospital, hundreds of union members gathered at 5 a.m. on October 4. Mirna Lopez, a health educator, highlighted the struggle of affording the high cost of living in the Bay Area with inadequate wages.
Ms. Lopez stated, “People are leaving because they cannot afford to stay.” She also emphasized the impact of staffing shortages on patient care, with long wait times for appointments and screenings.
Guido Gerlitz, a respiratory therapist at Kaiser’s Oakland hospital, called for an increase in wages and the “differential” pay rate for night shifts. He stressed the need for recognition and appreciation for the frontline workers who have made a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andre, a participant in the Oakland hospital demonstration, expressed solidarity among the workers and their desire for fair wages and quality patient care.
In Los Angeles, nurse Jessica Cruz highlighted the burnout experienced by healthcare workers and the refusal of Kaiser executives to address the staffing crisis.
Kaiser Permanente, a membership-based managed-care consortium, has been providing healthcare for over 75 years. With a presence in multiple states, the company employs over 305,000 individuals and serves 12.6 million members.
How has Kaiser Permanente responded to the strike by 75,000 workers and what measures have they put in place to ensure patient care is not compromised
Edical technicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals marched together, holding signs and chanting slogans demanding fair labor practices and safe staffing levels. Similar scenes were witnessed at other Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical offices across the country.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, representing workers in multiple states, engaged in negotiations with the company starting in April. However, a new labor agreement could not be reached before the contract expired on September 30. Concerned about unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels that lead to long wait times, misdiagnosis, and neglect, healthcare workers decided to take this unprecedented step of going on strike. The COVID-19 pandemic and chronic understaffing have added to their frustrations, and they are now demanding safe staffing levels from Kaiser management.
The strike, which commenced on October 4, is anticipated to last for three days. Caroline Lucas, the executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, has expressed the willingness of frontline healthcare workers to resume negotiations with Kaiser executives. However, she emphasized that agreement can only be reached if unfair labor practices cease.
Kaiser representatives have not yet commented on the strike. The company has informed patients that hospitals and emergency departments will remain open during this period. Patients’ care remains a top priority for Kaiser, and they have ensured that contingency plans are in place to maintain safe and high-quality care.
While outpatient pharmacies may have reduced hours, hospital pharmacies and crucial services will continue operating. The company acknowledges that there may be longer wait times due to high call volumes but assures patients that their care will not be compromised.
The strike by 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers is an unprecedented display of unity and determination by healthcare professionals across the country. Their demands for fair labor practices and safe staffing levels highlight the crucial role that these workers play in ensuring the well-being of patients. It is now up to Kaiser Permanente to respond to these concerns and work towards a mutually beneficial resolution.
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