The Ongoing Struggle for Fairness Among Kaiser Permanente Workers

While the recent Kaiser Permanente strike hailed as “the largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history,” has ended, the quest for equitable labor conditions persists. Despite the strike’s conclusion, Kaiser Permanente workers, numbering in the tens of thousands, find themselves without a contract agreement, prompting unions to caution about the potential for further protests in the near future.

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, representing a workforce of 85,000, has formally notified the healthcare giant that another substantial labor action may be on the horizon if an accord cannot be reached. This prospective subsequent strike is slated to commence on November 1st and extend through November 8th. 

The decision to set the prospective follow-up strike for November is calculated. It corresponds with the October 31 expiration date of the labor contract governing Kaiser’s Seattle workforce, potentially adding an additional 3,000 employees to the 75,000 already participating in the strike. Moreover, the delay until November affords Kaiser executives more time to formulate viable proposals.

The resumption of bargaining sessions on October 12th and 13th offers optimism that a resolution may be reached before the November strike deadline. Nevertheless, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, casting doubt on the outcome.

The unions have raised concerns about Kaiser’s staffing shortages and wage competitiveness. They contend that these problems are contributing to a deterioration in the quality of healthcare and patient access. While Kaiser has put forward proposals including wage increases spanning from 12.5% to 16% over four years, a suggested $21 minimum wage in several states, and a $23 minimum wage in California, the unions maintain that these offers do not adequately address their grievances.

One of the primary points of contention in the negotiations is the unions’ request for a uniform $25 minimum wage applicable across all states, a proposition Kaiser has criticized as unfeasible for regions with lower living costs. The unions counter that Kaiser’s substantial financial reserves, including nearly $3.3 billion in net income over six months, render this demand reasonable.

For Kaiser Permanente, this strike is not an isolated event but follows months of protests and union criticism, alleging that Kaiser’s management has not taken their concerns seriously. In 2019, the coalition negotiated a contract with Kaiser that included a commitment of $130 million for workforce development, yearly raises ranging from 2% to 3%, and a prohibition on subcontracting. The current round of negotiations comes on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has strained both healthcare systems and their employees.

The current strike takes place exactly two years after Kaiser Permanente narrowly averted a contract strike involving 32,000 individuals, which was proposed by another significant consortium comprising 21 Kaiser Permanente unions known as the Alliance of Health Care Unions.