Kaiser Permanente healthcare strike could disrupt vaccine and prescription access: Live updates

The largest health worker strike went into effect on Wednesday morning, as an agreement between 75,000 healthcare workers and Kaiser Permanente hospitals has yet to be reached.

The strike began on 4 October at 6am PT as the workers — nurses, radiology technicians, pharmacists, sonographers and others — are striking “to protest unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels,” according to the latest release from SEIU-UHW, a union that is part of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions.

The strike will take place across the country in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington DC and is expected to last three days.

The strike comes after failed negotiations following the workers’ contract expiring on 30 September.

Early on Wednesday, Kaiser Permanente also issued a statement on the progress, saying the two parties are “still at the bargaining table, having worked through the night in an effort to reach an agreement. There has been a lot of progress, with agreements reached on several specific proposals late Tuesday.”

But the coalition was singing to a different tune. “No agreement can be made until Kaiser executives stop bargaining in bad faith and committing unfair labor practices,” said, Caroline Lucas, executive director of the coalition.

The jury is still out on the exact effects the walkout has on patient care, although reports predict vaccine access, prescriptions being filled, and lab testing could be disrupted.

Key Points

• What is the strike about?

• Who is going on strike at Kaiser Permanente?

• When is the Kaiser strike and when does it end?

Thursday 5 October 2023 22:30 , Kelly Rissman

Have similar strikes happened before?

Burnout in the healthcare field has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic overwhelmed workers and overran facilities.

Last year, 15,000 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association went on strike for three days in the state over staffing shortages, pay, and safety concerns. Earlier this year, in another part of the country, roughly 7,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association went on strike over pay and staffing complaints.

Thursday 5 October 2023 22:00 , Kelly Rissman

Illinois Rep Jan Schakowsky stands in solidarity with striking workers

Thursday 5 October 2023 21:30 , Kelly Rissman

Who is going on strike at Kaiser Permanente?

Healthcare workers employed at Kaiser Permanente facilities represented by unions. According to the coaltion, some of the jobs affected by the strike include:

• licensed vocational nurses

• emergency department technicians

• radiology technicians

• ultrasound sonographers

• teleservice representatives

• respiratory therapists

• x-ray technicians

• optometrists

• certified nursing assistants

• behavioral health workers

• surgical technicians

• pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

• home health aides

• phlebotomists

• medical assistants

• dental assistants

Thursday 5 October 2023 21:00 , Kelly Rissman

‘UAW has your back’

UAW workers, who are also striking, showed solidarity for Kaiser healthcare workers.

Thursday 5 October 2023 20:30 , Kelly Rissman

Images of day 2 of the walkout

Thursday 5 October 2023 20:00 , Kelly Rissman

‘We lauded healthcare workers as heroes. It’s time we compensate them as such’

California Congressman Juan Vargas expressed his support for the walkout.

Thursday 5 October 2023 19:30 , Kelly Rissman

How has the strike affected patient care?

Some experts have said that vaccine access could be disrupted as a result of the walkout as well as other services like lab tests, imaging and the filling of prescriptions.

Still, Kaiser Permanente has reassured that its facilities will remain open. “Our facilities will continue to be staffed by our physicians, trained and experienced managers, and staff, and in some cases we will augment with trained contract workers to serve in critical roles specifically for the duration of a strike,” the hospital system said.

Kaiser also said some elective services and non-emergency care could be rescheduled at a different location, as it is expanding its network to include some non-Kaiser facilities, like hospitals and retail pharmacies.

Thursday 5 October 2023 19:00 , Kelly Rissman

ICYMI: Timeline that led to the strike

2019: when the last contract was negotiated between the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions and Kaiser

2020: the Covid-19 pandemic rocked the healthcare system, apparently worsening the existing understaffing crisis at Kaiser Permanente, the coalition said

30 September, 2023: contract between the coalition and Kaiser expired

4 October: the coalition launched the largest healthcare worker strike in US history

5 October: both sides say that a deal has not yet been reached

Thursday 5 October 2023 18:15 , Kelly Rissman

Colorado Rep stands in solidarity with workers

Thursday 5 October 2023 17:45 , Kelly Rissman

The latest offer from Kaiser Permanente

Thursday 5 October 2023 17:15 , Kelly Rissman

A frontline worker describes the ‘unbearable’ impact of short staffing at Kaiser

Tami Chew has worked for Kaiser Permanente for 17 years.

She previously worked as a pharmacy technician and now works as a health plan representative at Kaiser Roseville, which includes helping patients “who reach a point in their care where they’re not sure what to do, like when they have a difficult diagnosis or need a second opinion.”

The reduced staff has exacerbated the burden on her team to produce results at a rate that is impossible to keep up. In a role like hers, delivering results quickly is crucial. Ms Chew said she often deals with patients who are at risk of losing a limb or their life, so “those decisions need to be made by the organisation within 72 hours.”

But due to understaffing, she can’t always give those results in time, resulting in an absolutely heartbreaking outcome.

Read the full story

Kaiser Permanente frontline worker discusses ‘unbearable’ impact of staffing shortage

Thursday 5 October 2023 16:45 , Kelly Rissman

Oregon State Rep joined the picket lines

Thursday 5 October 2023 16:35 , Kelly Rissman

California Rep Adam Schiff voiced support for the healthcare workers

Thursday 5 October 2023 15:30 , Kelly Rissman

Kaiser says they have made ‘tentative agreements’ with the coalition

Late on Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente sent out a statement saying it had made a few potential agreements in bargaining with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. Here’s what they look like:

• Across-the-board wage increases in all markets over the next four years.

• Updating the Performance Sharing Plan to include a minimum payout opportunity and potential for up to a $3,750 payout.

• Offering minimum wages of $23/hour in California and $21/hour in markets outside of California.

• Continuing and enhancing our existing excellent health benefits and retirement income plans.

• Renewing our strong tuition assistance and training programs, and increasing funding of the education trusts.

Thursday 5 October 2023 15:00 , Kelly Rissman

Tuesday evening statement from Caroline Lucas, spokesperson for the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions

Frontline healthcare workers are awaiting a meaningful response from Kaiser executives regarding some of our key priorities including safe staffing, outsourcing protections for incumbent healthcare workers, and fair wages to reduce turnover.

Healthcare workers within the coalition remain ready to meet at any time. Currently, the strike continues, and there are no sessions scheduled at this hour.

Thursday 5 October 2023 14:30 , Kelly Rissman

Day 2 of the strike continues

After picket lines plagued the country yesterday, as the largest health care worker strike in the nation’s history went into effect, no agreement was reached between the coalition and Kaiser as of Wednesday morning.

Thursday 5 October 2023 14:00 , Kelly Rissman

Colorado State Rep voices support for those striking in his state

Thursday 5 October 2023 13:00 , Kelly Rissman

Who is going on strike at Kaiser Permanente?

Healthcare workers employed at Kaiser Permanente facilities represented by unions. According to the coaltion, some of the jobs affected by the strike include:

• licensed vocational nurses

• emergency department technicians

• radiology technicians

• ultrasound sonographers

• teleservice representatives

• respiratory therapists

• x-ray technicians

• optometrists

• certified nursing assistants

• behavioral health workers

• surgical technicians

• pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

• home health aides

• phlebotomists

• medical assistants

• dental assistants

Thursday 5 October 2023 12:00 , Kelly Rissman

When and where is the strike happening?

The strike began at 6am PT on Wednesday, with workers striking in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Virginia and Washington DC.

Both sides predicted a three-day strike, from 4 October to 7 October.

However, one frontline worker who is in the bargaining discussions told The Independent that the coalition authorised a strike up to 14 days.

Thursday 5 October 2023 11:00 , Kelly Rissman

WATCH: healthcare workers striking outside of a Kaiser Permanente facility

Thursday 5 October 2023 10:00 , Kelly Rissman

What is Kaiser saying?

In terms of the ongoing negotiations, Kaiser said in an early morning Wednesday statement: “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. There has been a lot of progress, with agreements reached on several specific proposals late Tuesday.”

The hospital system also specifically addressed the hiring shortage on Monday. Kaiser said, “Despite the acute shortage of healthcare workers nationally, we have been able to hire more than 50,000 frontline employees in the last two years: 29,000 people in 2022, and another 22,000 so far this year.”

In April, Kaiser and the coalition agreed to a goal of hiring 10,000 new people for jobs represented by the coalition by the end of the year; Kaiser said it expects to reach that goal by the end of October.

Addressing the wage increases, the hospital system said that its current offer includes across-the-board wage increases from 12.5 to 16 per cent over four years. The proposed minimum wage would start at $21 in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and DC and $23 in California, with an increase over the next four years of the contract.

Thursday 5 October 2023 09:00 , Kelly Rissman

How does the strike affect patients?

Kaiser serves nearly 13 million patients, who will remain a “top priority” as the strike goes into effect, the statement said.

Kaiser hospitals will remain open even in the event of a strike. The hospital system explained, “Our facilities will continue to be staffed by our physicians, trained and experienced managers, and staff, and in some cases we will augment with contingent workers.”

However, some fear that the strike could lead to disruptions in vaccine administration. “The bigger issue is how long the strike will be. If it goes beyond three days, then I think we are looking at more disruptions and more difficulties for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine and other care services they need,” Janet Coffman, professor at the Healthforce Center at UCSF, told KQED.

In an effort to try to quash those concerns, Kaiser told the outlet: “Since the FDA authorized the updated COVID-19 vaccine, large-scale distribution has been a challenge for vaccine providers nationwide, including Kaiser Permanente. However, we have now received our supply and expect a consistent supply of the vaccine going forward.”

Thursday 5 October 2023 08:00 , Kelly Rissman

Footage on the ground

Thursday 5 October 2023 07:00 , Kelly Rissman

Have similar strikes happened before?

Burnout in the healthcare field has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic overwhelmed workers and overran facilities.

Last year, 15,000 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association went on strike for three days in the state over staffing shortages, pay, and safety concerns. Earlier this year, in another part of the country, roughly 7,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association went on strike over pay and staffing complaints.

Thursday 5 October 2023 06:00 , Kelly Rissman

Kaiser health plan representative discusses the stress of the staffing shortage

Tami Chew said that she has personally felt her role become more strained over the years due to the “deteriorating” partnership between the coalition and Kaiser. That gradual change became dramatic three years ago, she said, when her team of 13 people was slashed to six; now she is the only person still serving on the team from that time.

The reduced staff has exacerbated the burden on her team to produce results at a rate that is impossible to keep up. In a role like hers, delivering results quickly is crucial. Ms Chew said she often deals with patients who are at risk of losing a limb or their life, so “those decisions need to be made by the organisation within 72 hours.”

Read the full story

Kaiser Permanente frontline worker discusses ‘unbearable’ impact of staffing shortage

Thursday 5 October 2023 05:00 , Kelly Rissman

Where the negotiations stood when the contract expired

On 30 September, the coalition posted where Kaiser fell compared to the group of unions on a number of issues. Here’s what they said:

• Across-the-Board Raises (ATBs): A fair and equitable across-the-board pay increase for every member of our Coalition. We have held to our proposal for 6.5%, 6.5%, 5.75%, 5.75%. Kaiser is continuing to offer only 3%, 3%, 3%, 3% for SCAL/NW/CO/MAS/HI and 4%, 4%, 3%, 3% for NCAL/KPWA.

• Protections against Subcontracting and Outsourcing: While Kaiser has finally agreed to extend our hard-won protections against subcontracting and outsourcing, they are insisting on removing the Revenue Cycle workforce from that agreement. They want to outsource the revenue cycle function the way that other health systems have done.

• Applying the Partnership to Acquisitions: We continue to insist that Kaiser apply the principles of Partnership and the right to organize a union to any system they acquire. Kaiser wants to grow a non-union, low-wage/low-benefit arm of the company through acquisitions. This threatens all of our wages and benefits over the long run.

• PSP Bonus: We need Kaiser to come up from their low offer of $750 max if we make our goals but they don’t meet their financial target. We also need a plan structure that allows us to meet the maximum payout.

• Premium Subsidy/HRA Retiree Medical: We are seeking modest improvements to the premium subsidy/HRA retiree medical plan that we will be transitioning to in 2028 based on the feedback of members who are already under that plan. Kaiser is not agreeing to this even though it was the Coalition that helped Kaiser reduce its accounting liability in 2015 by restructuring our retiree medical plan.

Thursday 5 October 2023 04:00 , Kelly Rissman

What is the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions?

The coalition is made up a number of unions — 85,000 members — across the country at Kaiser facilities. Here are the unions, where they are located and who they represent:

• SEIU-UHW — CaliforniaMembership: 57,443 — Medical assistants, medical social workers, information technology workers, environmental service workers, surgical technicians, food professionals, unit assistants and other health care professionals

• SEIU Local 1199NW — Seattle, WashingtonMembership: 2,917 — Registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers and service professionals

• SEIU Local 121RN — Southern CaliforniaMembership: 354 — Registered nurses

• SEIU Local 105 — Greater Denver area, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, PuebloMembership: 3,050 — Health care and property care workers, including member services representatives, licensed practical nurses, coding technicians, receptionists, cardiology technicians, pharmacy clerks and couriers

• SEIU Local 49 — Oregon and Southwest WashingtonMembership: 4,800 — Service and clerical workers, including environmental services, gardeners, food service workers, cashiers, lab techs, dental clerks, phlebotomists, gardeners, certified nursing assistants, clerks, schedulers, coordinators, and more

• OPEIU Local 50 — HawaiiMembership: 50 — Registered Nurses

• OPEIU Local 30 — San Diego CountyMembership: 4,916 — Administrative, service, maintenance, and accounting workers, including licensed vocational nurses (LVN), physical therapy assistants, medical transcriptionists, orthopedic technicians, ophthalmic technologists

• OPEIU Local 29 — Northern CaliforniaMembership: 2,550 — Administrative, service, maintenance, and accounting workers

• OPEIU Local 8 — Seattle, WashingtonMembership: 1,044 — Offices, hospitals, clinics, social services, housing, home care, credit unions, the insurance industry, and the public sector

• OPEIU Local 2 — District of Columbia, Maryland, VirginiaMembership: 4,763 — Health care and administrative; including member services representatives, coding technicians, receptionists, licensed practical nurses, clinical assistants, surgical assistants, urgent care technologists, cardiology technologists, physical therapist assistants, radiology technologists, MRI technologists, bone density technologists, sonographers, laboratory clerks, pathology assistants, lab specimen processors, ophthalmology assistants, opticians, optometrists, pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, pharmacy clerks, telemedicine support, referral management assistant, SNF placement coordinator, facility services assistant, secretary, accountants

• IFPTE Local 20 — Northern CaliforniaMembership: 1,517 — Clinical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, optometrists and optometric assistants, genetic counselors, home health physical, occupational, and speech therapists

Thursday 5 October 2023 03:00 , Kelly Rissman

Former Secretary of Labor weighs in on the labor strike

Thursday 5 October 2023 02:00 , Kelly Rissman

A California nurse weighs in

Catherine Kennedy, RN and a president of California Nurses Association (CNA) discussed the current Kaiser situation:

Registered nurses and members of CNA/NNOC at Kaiser Permanente stand in solidarity with the striking workers, who are demanding the health care giant invest its profits back into patient care. RNs know the devastating impacts of Kaiser’s manufactured staffing crisis on patient care, including delays in care and lack of access.

Just this year, Kaiser has made more than $3 billion in profits, and yet hospitals and clinics remain short-staffed. Rather than invest in direct, hands-on patient care, Kaiser is spending millions of dollars on outsourcing schemes that remove patients from the hospital. Executives are also diverting profits from patient care to acquire health systems in other states.

CNA/NNOC Kaiser nurses are supporting their colleagues this week by holding actions inside and outside their hospitals. We call on Kaiser to settle a fair contract that respects workers and patients.

Thursday 5 October 2023 01:00 , Kelly Rissman

What is the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions saying?

Statement from Caroline Lucas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions:

Given the urgency of Kaiser’s staffing crisis, frontline healthcare workers are ready to sit down with Kaiser executives whenever they’re ready to bargain in good faith — including up until the scheduled strike start time. However, no agreement can be made until Kaiser executives stop bargaining in bad faith and committing unfair labor practices.

Tens of thousands of frontline Kaiser healthcare workers across the country are ready for an unfair labor practice strike at 6 a.m. tomorrow. Patients and workers need dramatic action now to solve the Kaiser short staffing crisis and to ensure our patients’ safety.

With hours left before our strike, both management and union negotiators are on stand-by waiting for Kaiser executives to resolve their internal debate about whether to do what it takes to reach an agreement or force the largest healthcare worker strike in US history.

Thursday 5 October 2023 00:00 , Kelly Rissman

What members of Congress are saying

Sen Bernie Sanders wrote: “I stand in solidarity with the 75,000 health care workers at Kaiser Permanente who are fighting for safe staffing ratios & better wages, benefits & working conditions. If Kaiser can afford to pay its CEO over $15.4 million it can afford to treat all of its workers with respect.”

Congresswoman Cori Bush posted, “Today, 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers walked off the job, becoming the largest healthcare strike in US history. I stand in solidarity with them in their fight.”

Sen Jeff Merkley also said, “I’m supporting striking Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in Oregon and across the country who are negotiating for quality patient care and for what should be standard in all healthcare workplaces — safe staffing levels.”

Sen Michael Bennet voiced his support for the strikers as well, “Our health care workers save lives every day, and their hard work deserves to be rewarded. As nearly 3,000 @SEIU105 and Kaiser Permanente workers in Colorado go on strike, I stand with them in their fight for fair wages and better working conditions.”

Wednesday 4 October 2023 23:00 , Kelly Rissman

A cardiac monitor on the pulse of the negotiations

Wednesday 4 October 2023 22:00 , Kelly Rissman

A Kaiser employee accused the healthcare giant of not reaching a deal due to executives’ ‘greed’

Tami Chew said that Kaiser executives chose to close many of the member service offices in California and opted against hiring more workers “because of their greed.”

She pointed to the hospital system’s finances for the first half of 2023. Kaiser Permanente announced in its releases that over the course of the first two quarters, it has earned a net income of $3.2bn. “So they need to come to the table and bargain in good faith and that’s what we’re asking,” Ms Chew said.

Read the full story on what led to the strike

Kaiser Permanente frontline worker discusses ‘unbearable’ impact of staffing shortage

Wednesday 4 October 2023 21:30 , Kelly Rissman

“Our patients need more staff”

Wednesday 4 October 2023 21:15 , Kelly Rissman

Colorado Sen Michael Bennet also supported healthcare workers in his state on strike

Wednesday 4 October 2023 21:00 , Kelly Rissman

Bernie Sanders supports those on strike

Wednesday 4 October 2023 20:30 , Kelly Rissman

The latest from Kaiser

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. There has been a lot of progress, with agreements reached on several specific proposals late Tuesday.

We remain committed to reaching a new agreement that continues to provide our employees with market-leading wages, excellent benefits, generous retirement income plans, and valuable professional development opportunities.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 20:00 , Kelly Rissman

What are the healthcare workers seeking?

The number one priority is addressing short staffing.

In a 5 September letter, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Union urged the hospital system to view the staffing shortage as “the patient emergency that it is.”

The letter said that Kaiser Permanente is facing “record attrition” and 30,000 vacancies. This shortage is leading to increased patient wait times and an exacerbated strain on healthcare workers, which only “accelerates the exodus from the field,” the coalition wrote.

On 30 September — the date of the contract expiration — the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions explained that the strike was over “unfair labour practices” and argued that the hospital system is engaging in “bad faith” bargaining.

The coalition wrote a list of demands, outlining that they are looking for across-the-board wage increases, protections against outsourcing, the right to unionise a system that Kaiser acquires, and better benefits.

In August, unions representing Kaiser workers asked for a $25 hourly minimum wage, with pay increases over time.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 19:30 , Kelly Rissman

Pictures from the picket line

Wednesday 4 October 2023 19:15 , Kelly Rissman

Congresswoman Cori Bush supports the strike

Wednesday 4 October 2023 19:00 , Kelly Rissman

ICYMI: the details of when, where and why 75,000 workers are striking

The strike began on 4 October at 6am PT as the workers — nurses, radiology technicians, pharmacists, sonographers and others — are striking “to protest unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels,” according to the latest release from SEIU-UHW, a union that is part of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions.

The strike will take place across the country in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington DC. It’s expected to span three days. The workers’ contract expired on 30 September and new contract negotiations are ongoing.

Read more

Kaiser hospital strike begins with 75,000 workers joining picket lines across the US

Wednesday 4 October 2023 18:45 , Kelly Rissman

What is the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions?

The coalition is made up a number of unions — 85,000 members — across the country at Kaiser facilities. Here are the unions, where they are located and who they represent:

• SEIU-UHW — CaliforniaMembership: 57,443 — Medical assistants, medical social workers, information technology workers, environmental service workers, surgical technicians, food professionals, unit assistants and other health care professionals

• SEIU Local 1199NW — Seattle, WashingtonMembership: 2,917 — Registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers and service professionals

• SEIU Local 121RN — Southern CaliforniaMembership: 354 — Registered nurses

• SEIU Local 105 — Greater Denver area, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, PuebloMembership: 3,050 — Health care and property care workers, including member services representatives, licensed practical nurses, coding technicians, receptionists, cardiology technicians, pharmacy clerks and couriers

• SEIU Local 49 — Oregon and Southwest WashingtonMembership: 4,800 — Service and clerical workers, including environmental services, gardeners, food service workers, cashiers, lab techs, dental clerks, phlebotomists, gardeners, certified nursing assistants, clerks, schedulers, coordinators, and more

• OPEIU Local 50 — HawaiiMembership: 50 — Registered Nurses

• OPEIU Local 30 — San Diego CountyMembership: 4,916 — Administrative, service, maintenance, and accounting workers, including licensed vocational nurses (LVN), physical therapy assistants, medical transcriptionists, orthopedic technicians, ophthalmic technologists

• OPEIU Local 29 — Northern CaliforniaMembership: 2,550 — Administrative, service, maintenance, and accounting workers

• OPEIU Local 8 — Seattle, WashingtonMembership: 1,044 — Offices, hospitals, clinics, social services, housing, home care, credit unions, the insurance industry, and the public sector

• OPEIU Local 2 — District of Columbia, Maryland, VirginiaMembership: 4,763 — Health care and administrative; including member services representatives, coding technicians, receptionists, licensed practical nurses, clinical assistants, surgical assistants, urgent care technologists, cardiology technologists, physical therapist assistants, radiology technologists, MRI technologists, bone density technologists, sonographers, laboratory clerks, pathology assistants, lab specimen processors, ophthalmology assistants, opticians, optometrists, pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, pharmacy clerks, telemedicine support, referral management assistant, SNF placement coordinator, facility services assistant, secretary, accountants

• IFPTE Local 20 — Northern CaliforniaMembership: 1,517 — Clinical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, optometrists and optometric assistants, genetic counselors, home health physical, occupational, and speech therapists

Wednesday 4 October 2023 18:30 , Kelly Rissman

WATCH: Healthcare workers on strike

Wednesday 4 October 2023 18:15 , Kelly Rissman

The Kaiser wage gap

The coalition, in August, pushed for a $25 hourly minimum wage, with pay increases over time.

Kaiser said that its current offer includes across-the-board wage increases from 12.5 to 16 per cent over four years. The proposed minimum wage would start at $21 in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and DC and $23 in California, with an increase over the next four years of the contract.

As of Wednesday afternoon, negotiations continue.

Read the full story between the parties’ differences here

Understaffing and unfair pay: What the US’s largest health workers strike could bring

Wednesday 4 October 2023 18:00 , Kelly Rissman

Where the negotiations stood when the contract expired

On 30 September, the coalition posted where Kaiser fell compared to the group of unions on a number of issues. Here’s what they said:

• Across-the-Board Raises (ATBs): A fair and equitable across-the-board pay increase for every member of our Coalition. We have held to our proposal for 6.5%, 6.5%, 5.75%, 5.75%. Kaiser is continuing to offer only 3%, 3%, 3%, 3% for SCAL/NW/CO/MAS/HI and 4%, 4%, 3%, 3% for NCAL/KPWA.

• Protections against Subcontracting and Outsourcing: While Kaiser has finally agreed to extend our hard-won protections against subcontracting and outsourcing, they are insisting on removing the Revenue Cycle workforce from that agreement. They want to outsource the revenue cycle function the way that other health systems have done.

• Applying the Partnership to Acquisitions: We continue to insist that Kaiser apply the principles of Partnership and the right to organize a union to any system they acquire. Kaiser wants to grow a non-union, low-wage/low-benefit arm of the company through acquisitions. This threatens all of our wages and benefits over the long run.

• PSP Bonus: We need Kaiser to come up from their low offer of $750 max if we make our goals but they don’t meet their financial target. We also need a plan structure that allows us to meet the maximum payout.

• Premium Subsidy/HRA Retiree Medical: We are seeking modest improvements to the premium subsidy/HRA retiree medical plan that we will be transitioning to in 2028 based on the feedback of members who are already under that plan. Kaiser is not agreeing to this even though it was the Coalition that helped Kaiser reduce its accounting liability in 2015 by restructuring our retiree medical plan.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 17:45 , Kelly Rissman

A California nurse weighs in

Catherine Kennedy, RN and a president of California Nurses Association (CNA) discussed the current Kaiser situation:

Registered nurses and members of CNA/NNOC at Kaiser Permanente stand in solidarity with the striking workers, who are demanding the health care giant invest its profits back into patient care. RNs know the devastating impacts of Kaiser’s manufactured staffing crisis on patient care, including delays in care and lack of access.

Just this year, Kaiser has made more than $3 billion in profits, and yet hospitals and clinics remain short-staffed. Rather than invest in direct, hands-on patient care, Kaiser is spending millions of dollars on outsourcing schemes that remove patients from the hospital. Executives are also diverting profits from patient care to acquire health systems in other states.

CNA/NNOC Kaiser nurses are supporting their colleagues this week by holding actions inside and outside their hospitals. We call on Kaiser to settle a fair contract that respects workers and patients.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 17:15 , Kelly Rissman

The view from the picket lines

Wednesday 4 October 2023 17:00 , Kelly Rissman

Has such a strike happened before?

Although there has never been quite a strike of this magnitude, last year, 15,000 members of the Minnesota Nurses Association went on strike for three days in the state over staffing shortages, pay, and safety concerns.

Earlier this year, in another part of the country, roughly 7,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association went on strike over pay and staffing complaints.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 16:45 , Kelly Rissman

What is Kaiser saying?

In terms of the ongoing negotiations, Kaiser said in an early morning Wednesday statement: “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. There has been a lot of progress, with agreements reached on several specific proposals late Tuesday.”

The hospital system also specifically addressed the hiring shortage on Monday. Kaiser said, “Despite the acute shortage of healthcare workers nationally, we have been able to hire more than 50,000 frontline employees in the last two years: 29,000 people in 2022, and another 22,000 so far this year.”

In April, Kaiser and the coalition agreed to a goal of hiring 10,000 new people for jobs represented by the coalition by the end of the year; Kaiser said it expects to reach that goal by the end of October.

Addressing the wage increases, the hospital system said that its current offer includes across-the-board wage increases from 12.5 to 16 per cent over four years. The proposed minimum wage would start at $21 in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and DC and $23 in California, with an increase over the next four years of the contract.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 16:30 , Kelly Rissman

Will the strike affect patients?

Kaiser Permanente’s network offers coverage for nearly 13 million people. These patients, Kaiser reassured, will remain a “top priority” amid the strike.

Kaiser said its facilities will remain open and that its hospitals and offices “will continue to be staffed by our physicians, trained and experienced managers, and staff, and in some cases we will augment with contingent workers.”

However, some have raised concerns that the strike could lead to non-urgent disruptions, like vaccine adminstration.

Read the full story...

Kaiser hospital strike begins with 75,000 workers joining picket lines across the US

Wednesday 4 October 2023 16:15 , Kelly Rissman

When is the Kaiser strike and when does it end?

The healthcare workers began striking at 6am PT on Wednesday, 4 October.

Both sides have predicted the strike could span three days.

Workers have joined the picket lines in states across the nation: California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington DC.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 15:59 , Kelly Rissman

Who is going on strike at Kaiser Permanente?

Healthcare workers employed at Kaiser Permanente facilities represented by unions. According to the coaltion, some of the jobs affected by the strike include:

• licensed vocational nurses

• emergency department technicians

• radiology technicians

• ultrasound sonographers

• teleservice representatives

• respiratory therapists

• x-ray technicians

• optometrists

• certified nursing assistants

• behavioral health workers

• surgical technicians

• pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

• home health aides

• phlebotomists

• medical assistants

• dental assistants

Wednesday 4 October 2023 15:57 , Kelly Rissman

What is the Kaiser strike about?

Healthcare workers are on strike “to protest unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels at hundreds of Kaiser hospitals and facilities across the United States,” the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions said in a statement on Tuesday night.

The coaltion said it is trying to “solve the Kaiser short-staffing crisis,” which has been affecting patient treatment since the mass exodus from the field after the Covid-19 pandemic overwhelmed hospital facilities.

The coalition is seeking across-the-board wage increases, protections against outsourcing, the right to unionize a system that Kaiser acquires, and better benefits.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 15:55 , Kelly Rissman

What is the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions saying?

Statement from Caroline Lucas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions:

Given the urgency of Kaiser’s staffing crisis, frontline healthcare workers are ready to sit down with Kaiser executives whenever they’re ready to bargain in good faith — including up until the scheduled strike start time. However, no agreement can be made until Kaiser executives stop bargaining in bad faith and committing unfair labor practices.

Tens of thousands of frontline Kaiser healthcare workers across the country are ready for an unfair labor practice strike at 6 a.m. tomorrow. Patients and workers need dramatic action now to solve the Kaiser short staffing crisis and to ensure our patients’ safety.

With hours left before our strike, both management and union negotiators are on stand-by waiting for Kaiser executives to resolve their internal debate about whether to do what it takes to reach an agreement or force the largest healthcare worker strike in US history.

Wednesday 4 October 2023 15:52 , Kelly Rissman

75,000 workers are protesting in the largest healthcare strike US history

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente sonographers, radiology technicians, nurses, emergency department staff, and others have taken to the picket lines in protest of the staffing shortages.

Their contract ended with the hospital system on 30 September. Now, negotiations to reach a new contract are ongoing.