The biggest ever health care strike in the United States is on the horizon, as tens of thousands of workers are preparing to walk off their jobs. The strike, organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), includes nurses, caregivers, and other employees demanding higher wages, better working conditions, and improved patient care. The strike is expected to take place in California’s Kaiser Permanente hospital network as well as hospitals in twelve other states. This action comes at a time when health care workers have been under immense pressure due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic..
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, which represents more than 85,000 health care workers in seven states and the District of Columbia, said Sunday it did not reach an agreement before the contract expired at 11:59 p.m. PT on Saturday.
The coalition said it remains at odds with the nonprofit Kaiser Permanente on issues including higher wages, better retirement benefits and job protections.
“Kaiser continues to bargain in bad faith over these issues and, so far, there is no light at the end of the tunnel,” the coalition said in a statement Saturday night.
In a statement to The Hill, the coalition said it was ready to sit down with Kaiser Permanente executives when they are “ready to bargain in good faith.”
The coalition’s national bargaining team submitted a 10-day notice to the nonprofit executives on Sept. 22. Strikes are set to start on Wednesday at 6 a.m. if an agreement is not reached.
The strike could last until 6 a.m. on Saturday, and hundreds of leaders were recently trained on how to run a picket line, the coalition said.
Kaiser Permanente, the largest nonprofit health care provider in the U.S., reported profits topping $3 billion in the first half of 2023.
In a statement shared with The Hill, Kaiser Permanente said it has continued to “make progress on key issues.”
They reached tentative agreements with the union on a range of issues including travel for continuing education, temporary worker usage, staff vacancy tracking and dispute resolution.
The nonprofit said it is “optimistic” the two sides will reach an agreement before Wednesday.
The Hill’s Miranda Nazzaro has more here.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, representing over 85,000 healthcare workers, has not reached an agreement with Kaiser Permanente before their contract expired. The coalition is demanding higher wages, better retirement benefits, and job protections. The coalition accused Kaiser Permanente of bargaining in bad faith. Strikes are scheduled to begin on Wednesday if an agreement is not reached. Kaiser Permanente reported profits of over $3 billion in the first half of 2023. While tentative agreements have been reached on certain issues, an overall agreement has not been reached yet.
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