Kaiser Permanente Strike: Thousands of Workers Walk Out
Kaiser Permanente Workers Strike in California and Hawaii
Table of Contents
Key Details
Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers began a five-day strike on Tuesday,November 7,2023,demanding increased salaries and improved staffing levels. The strike involves approximately 31,000 workers,including registered nurses,nurse anesthetists,pharmacists,and other specialists,across California and Hawaii.
Union demands
- Wage Increase: 25% raise to compensate for past low increases and current inflation.
- Staffing Levels: Increased permanent staff to reduce burnout and reliance on temporary contract workers.
- Internal Registry: Creation of an internal registry of on-call union nurses.
Kaiser Permanente’s Response
- Strike Criticism: Labeled the strike as “unnecessary and disruptive.”
- Wage Offer: Offered a 21.5% pay raise, representing a nearly $2 billion increase in payroll by 2029.
- Staffing claims: Maintains staffing ratios meet or exceed California mandates.
- Contingency Plans: Hired 7,600 temporary staff and reassigned 1,000 employees to cover striking workers.
Financial Breakdown
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente annual Payroll (Current) | $6.3 billion |
| Union’s Requested Wage Increase | 25% |
| Kaiser Permanente’s Wage Offer | 21.5% |
| Cost of Kaiser’s wage Offer (by 2029) | Nearly $2 billion |
Negotiation Timeline
- Collective bargaining Agreements Expired: September 30, 2023
- Negotiations Began: Approximately three months ago (some workers since March 2023)
- Strike Dates: November 7-12, 2023
impact of the Storm
The first day of the strike coincided with a significant storm in Los Angeles, potentially exacerbating challenges for patients seeking care.