Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees in the United States, including California, are planning to go on strike. The strike, involving 75,000 employees, aims to protest unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions states that the strike is the largest healthcare worker strike in US history. The three-day strike is expected to result in the rescheduling of non-urgent appointments and procedures.
Kaiser executives have been accused of refusing to address the staffing crisis by union representatives. Nurses like Jessica Cruz from Southern California have shared their concerns about rushing patients due to understaffing, compromising the quality of care. The strike is a reaction to the burnout healthcare workers face when having to undertake the responsibilities of multiple individuals, ultimately negatively impacting patient care.
However, Kaiser Permanente argues that the strike is not justified as they face similar challenges nationwide due to the effects of the pandemic. The provider acknowledges the stress on healthcare but claims to have handled the impacts better than others. Kaiser has offered guarantees of wage increases and a minimum wage of $23 for California, along with other benefits. While hospitals and emergency departments will remain open during the strike, Kaiser patients may experience longer wait and hold times, and appointments may need to be rescheduled. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions represents over 85,000 workers in healthcare facilities across various states.
In conclusion, tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees are set to strike to protest unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels. The strike is expected to disrupt non-urgent appointments and procedures. Despite claims by Kaiser that the strike is not justified, union representatives argue that the healthcare provider is not adequately addressing the staffing crisis. The strike is scheduled to take place for three days and is considered the largest healthcare worker strike in US history.