75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers are officially on strike
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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 PointsShow latest update
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Have similar strikes happened before?
Burnout in the healthcare field has increased since the Co-19 pandemic overwhelmed workers and overran facilities.
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 22:30
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Illinois Rep Jan Schakowsky stands in solidarity with striking workers
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 22:00
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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 nursesemergency department techniciansradiology techniciansultrasound sonographersteleservice representativesrespiratory therapistsx-ray techniciansoptometristscertified nursing assistantsbehavioral health workerssurgical technicianspharmacists and pharmacy technicianshome health aidesphlebotomistsmedical assistantsdental assistants
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 21:30
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UAW workers, who are also striking, showed solidarity for Kaiser healthcare workers.
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 21:00
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Images of day 2 of the walkout
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 20:30
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‘We lauded healthcare workers as heroes. It’s time we compensate them as such’
California Congressman Juan Vargas expressed his support for the walkout.
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 20:00
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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.
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 19:30
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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 Co-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
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 19:00
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Colorado Rep stands in solidarity with workers
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 18:15
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The latest offer from Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente offer 10/4
(Kaiser Permanente)
Kelly Rissman5 October 2023 17:45
