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Kaiser Health Worker Strike Ends As Talks Continue
Union members picket outside the Kaiser hospital in Baldwin Park on Oct. 4, 2023.
(
Jackie Fortiér
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The massive three-day walkout of 75,000 Kaiser health workers in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Virginia and Washington D.C. started Oct. 4. About 80 percent of them were in California. The strike ends early Saturday morning.
Who was on strike? In Southern California, more than 28,000 medical assistants, nurses, surgical technicians, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists, X-ray technicians and ultrasound sonographers among other unionized health workers walked out for three days — that’s about 34% of Kaiser’s Southern California workforce.
Why now: The last contract expired Sept. 30. In-person talks resume next week, but if a deal can’t be reached, union leaders say another strike could take place.
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The backstory: Union leaders want a $25-an-hour minimum wage across the company. Kaiser executives agree there should be an organization-wide minimum, but they’ve proposed $21, and $23 in California. The unions also say chronic understaffing puts patients at risk, which Kaiser denies.
What about Kaiser patients? Kaiser Permanente closed a number of labs during the strike, while hospitals, emergency departments and pharmacies remained open. Kaiser told LAist some scheduled appointments were switched to video or phone calls and “most routine surgeries were not rescheduled.”
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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