Talks Continue To Avoid Huge Kaiser Health Strike. Impact In SoCal Would Be Big

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente health employees in California and other states are poised to stage a three-day strike next week if a labor deal isn’t reached. Their current contract expires on Sept. 30.

On Sept. 22, the leaders of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions issued a 10-day unfair labor practice strike notice to Kaiser executives, announcing that more than 75,000 health care workers in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Virginia and Washington D.C. will hold a three-day strike from Oct. 4 to 6 unless the health system reaches a deal with the union. Health facilities are mandated by federal law to provide a 10-day strike notice.

Both sides pledged to keep negotiating a new contract up until the last minute. The coalition wants a $25-an-hour minimum wage across the company. Kaiser executives agree there should be an organization-wide floor, but they’ve proposed $21 an hour.

In Southern California, more than 28,000 medical assistants, nurses, surgical and lab technicians, pharmacists and administrative staff along with other unionized local health workers could go on strike — that’s about 34% of Kaiser’s Southern California workforce.

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68,000 California workers ready to walk out

According to the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente unions, more than 68,000 health care workers throughout California are preparing to strike “because Kaiser executives are bargaining in bad faith over solutions to the Kaiser short staffing crisis, and the safety of workers and patients is on the line,” communications director Betsy Twitchell said in a written statement to LAist.

Kaiser has called the unions’ claims misleading and urged employees to resist a call for a strike.

“Given the progress being made in national bargaining over the weekend and Monday, there is no reason to strike,” the company said in a statement. “The best place to reach an agreement is at the bargaining table. We will ask our employees to reject any call to walk away from their jobs, their patients, and their colleagues.”

What's next

Kaiser facilities will remain open if there is a strike. In a statement to LAist, Kaiser spokesperson Terry Kanakri wrote, “While a strike threat is disappointing, it does not necessarily mean a strike will happen. We take any threat to disrupt care for our members seriously and have plans in place to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care should a strike actually occur next week.”

In the meantime, a related bill is sitting on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. SB 525 would raise the hourly minimum at large health facilities and dialysis clinics to $23 next year, $24 in 2025, and $25 in 2026. Newsom has an Oct. 14 deadline to act on the legislation.

If the governor signs it into law, Kaiser would have to abide by the new rule, but the raise would only pertain to Kaiser’s California workforce.