Healthcare Workers Strike Against  Kaiser Permanente, Cite Unfair Labor Practices

Editor’s note: Wednesday, day one of the three-day strike. From the picket line at Pacific Coast Highway and Vermont.

Hundreds of healthcare workers were on the picket line at Kaiser Permanente in Harbor City on Oct. 4, the first day of a three-day strike. SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West president, Dave Regan, said Kaiser executives refused to acknowledge how much patient care has deteriorated or how much the frontline healthcare workforce and patients are suffering because of the Kaiser short-staffing crisis,” from a prepared statement from the coalition. 

Seventy-five percent of Kaiser employees are unionized. Datosha Williams, a SEIU-UHW representative, who is on the executive board and the bargaining team said they were striking that day because Kaiser executives were not listening and not bargaining in good faith. 

“We have already come up with solutions on how to resolve the Kaiser Healthcare Staffing crisis we are in right now. Frontline healthcare workers are overworked and disrespected. Bargaining is always about compensation; we are now in a fight for the lowest pay health care workers and still, we do not have enough staff to take care of the patients the way they deserve to be taken care of.”

The strike affects Kaiser facilities in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Virginia and Washington, D.C., according to the coalition of unions organizing the walkout. This includes members of four international unions., SEIU, which organizes the bulk of hospital workers in S. CA and has a Membership of 57,443 including medical assistants, phlebotomists, information technology workers, surgical technicians, lab technicians, pharmacy clerks, social workers, food service workers and housekeepers. Emergency rooms and pharmacies will stay open.

Nurses and all hospital workers face a radically changed healthcare landscape. Burned out and traumatized from the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers are leaving the industry in alarming numbers, leaving California with an urgent patient care crisis. Rising inflation and housing costs have left many healthcare workers unable to afford to live in the communities where they serve, while higher wages in retail and fast food have made healthcare careers less competitive. In a recent survey, nearly one in three healthcare workers reported they were considering leaving the profession altogether. 

Other healthcare workers were eager to explain why they walked out.

Rebecca Castro, who has worked at Kaiser for 15 years in the disability department said her department is short-staffed. 

“Patients might wait up to 2 to 3 weeks to get their money, and that’s a long wait,” Castro said. “Kaiser executives do not want to bargain with us.”

Other unions turned out in support, such as Michelle Olinger with a delegation from the Union of Healthcare Professionals (UHCP).

“We are out here to support them because without them our unit does not function. Because without them our hospital doesn’t function,” Olinger said. “Patient safety is always our first concern. Staffing is the most important and vital part of our assistance.”

The theme was the same with everyone I spoke with. It is clear, the only way to hire and retain experienced healthcare workers in our state is to provide higher wages and to invest in educational pipelines to train the healthcare workers of tomorrow. Given KP’s profitability – more than $23 billion since 2018 and $3.2 billion in the first six months of this year alone, Kaiser can well afford to meet the staffing challenges and patient care crisis facing our state.  The unions are demanding that management commit to a $25/hour minimum wage for all Kaiser Permanente positions.

In S. CA Kaiser, with a base wage of $21/hour, is offering 10% over four years plus a lump sum bonus of 4%, which is not included in pensions, sick or vacation days or other long-term wage-related benefits.

Kaiser is increasing insurance rates for patients 15.4% in 2024.  Some workers make as little as $17/hr.

The SEIU said in a released statement that due to a lack of nurses, long shifts, and too many patients with too few nurses, 31% of California healthcare workers are thinking about quitting. Eighty-three percent say their department is understaffed. $3 billion in profits over the past six months.   

The union said that because of staff shortage, Kaiser patients are forced to wait unsafe lengths of time for cancer screenings, room assignments, test results, primary care appointments, X-rays, surgeries, waiting in emergency rooms, and more, according to the Coalition of Unions.

Evelia Rodriguez confirmed the issues with all the strikers interviewed.

“I’m on the picket line because they don’t value us health care workers. The executives are not at the table bargaining in good faith. Not only us, but the patients are suffering as well. We’ve always been here to give good patient quality care and so it’s not happening because of short staffing.”

Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Labor Center, told the LA Times that, “The move by the healthcare workers comes on the heels of “a dramatic series of strikes” by hotel workers, writers, actors, autoworkers and other laborers, which “contribute to a sense that worker solidarity makes a difference and collective action can move the agenda forward.” 

Other unionists came to the picket line to offer solidarity and messages of support. These included members of the Inland Boatman’s Union and the International Association of Machinists.

Mike Vera of the IBU said he was very proud to stand in solidarity with over 75,000 SEIU united healthcare workers. 

“These workers demand that Kaiser executives bargain in good faith and put an end to the staffing crisis which jeopardizes the safety of both workers and more importantly the patients,” Vera said. “ Once again, we are witnessing a large corporation putting profit over the well-being of workers.” 

The IAM also delivered a message of solidarity to the crowd.

Strikers were eager to also learn about health care in Cuba, which is completely free and were invited to participate in a program and come appeal for solidarity at the Machinists Union hall, 1261 Avalon Blvd. in Wilmington, Saturday at 11am.

Mark Friedman, RLN News reporter, Associate member International Association of Machinists, Local 1484