More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers remained on strike on Monday as the open-ended walkout entered its fourth week, disrupting patient appointments, surgeries, and treatments across California and Hawaii. The strike, which started on January 26, involves members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, which represents nurses, physical therapists, midwives, and other health professionals. It marks the first time the umbrella organization has walked off the job.
Workers are demanding a 25% wage increase over four years, arguing the raise is needed to retain and recruit employees and account for inflationary pressures. They accuse Kaiser of violating staffing agreements and worsening patient care. Kaiser contends its employees are on average the highest paid among other health care organizations and has proposed a 21.5% increase over four years, estimating its proposal would cost about $2 billion while the union’s would cost an additional $1 billion.
The union is also advocating for three groups of Northern California employees who recently formed unions and are bargaining for their first contracts: certified nurse midwives (157 in the region), certified registered nurse anesthetists, and physician assistants. Kaiser has proposed cutting retirement and medical benefits for these groups, freezing wages for current employees, and cutting wages for new hires. Nurse midwives deliver 80% of vaginal births across Kaiser’s Northern California hospitals, resulting in fewer cesarean sections and maternal complications. Reports indicate canceled chemotherapy treatments, surgeries, and other procedures. Kaiser is the largest health provider in California, serving more than 9 million patients and operating as the largest private employer in the state.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/kaiser-strike-hits-fourth-week-as-31-000-workers-demand-79849110