In a historic labor action, tens of thousands of nurses and healthcare workers commenced a planned three-day strike on Wednesday at Kaiser Permanente facilities across the US. This strike came into effect after contract negotiations failed to meet the union’s deadline for reaching a settlement. The walkout against Kaiser, a prominent not-for-profit healthcare network and managed-care organization in the country, has emerged as the largest strike ever witnessed within the U.S. medical industry.
Kaiser Permanente swiftly responded, asserting that its hospitals and emergency departments across the US would continue to operate during the strike, with these facilities being staffed by doctors, managers, and “contingency workers.” This strike follows a series of contentious contract negotiations and strikes this year, fueled by the tight labor market and escalating inflation, which have affected various sectors, including the automobile, rail, airline, and entertainment industries.
The Kaiser union had set a firm deadline of 6 a.m. PDT (1300 GMT) on Wednesday to reach a deal on a new labor agreement covering nurses, medical technicians, and support staff situated in hundreds of hospitals across six states – California, Oregon, Washington state, Colorado, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kaiser Permanente stated, “Both Kaiser Permanente management and coalition union representatives are still at the bargaining table, having worked through the night in an effort to reach an agreement.”
The coalition leading this strike comprises eight unions that represent nurses, technicians, and support staff. They claim that the company has failed to negotiate in good faith during talks. The previous labor agreement had expired on September 30th, leading to this decisive action.
Kaiser Permanente, operating on a national scale, employs approximately 68,000 nurses, 213,000 technicians, clerical workers, and administrative staff, in addition to its 24,000 doctors. Key demands from the striking unions include improved wages and an increase in staffing levels within the organization. Staffing levels have emerged as a major point of contention, with the union insisting that Kaiser should hire an additional 10,000 healthcare workers to fill current vacancies.
While the strike in Virginia and Washington, D.C. involves only optometrists and pharmacists, its impact on patients in California, Colorado, Oregon, and a portion of southwestern Washington state is expected to be more substantial, as noted by a Kaiser spokeswoman on Tuesday.
According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 309,700 workers have participated in work stoppages through August this year, making 2023 a year on track to witness the highest number of strikes since 2019. The ongoing labor unrest underscores the challenges facing workers across various industries as they seek to secure better pay and benefits amidst a complex economic landscape.
This strike at Kaiser Permanente US facilities serves as a potent reminder of the growing tensions in labor relations and the determination of healthcare workers to advocate for their rights and the needs of their patients.
Source: Reuters
