Unionized Kaiser Permanente employees launch a mass strike over compensation and workload concerns
Ten thousand Kaiser Permanente health care workers across California and Hawaii walked off the job on Monday in a strike over fair compensation and timely patient care.
KTLA stated that the strike started at 7 am on Monday, involving over 31,000 members of the United Nurses Association of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals. This includes registered nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and nurse practitioners.
Dozens walked outside the Kaiser building in Panorama City. Union officials are accusing Kaiser of coming up short at the bargaining table.
Kaiser released a statement saying, “We have been informed that the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals have agreed to return to local bargaining, where we look forward to being able to finalize new contracts for our employees and their families.”
On the other side, Charmaine S. Morales, RN, president of UNAC/UHCP, stated, “The core sticking points… we’ve been at the bargaining table for heading on a year. We’re looking for fair wages… that look at recruiting, staff, retaining staff. We have a number of things that we want to able to address regarding access for patient care, workload.”
Many nurses on the picket line say they feel overwhelmed by the patient load they face daily.
One nurse, telling Eyewitness News, explained, “We are always understaffed. People wait two, three, four, five hours in the emergency room. They are sitting on top of each other in the waiting room because we don’t have enough staff to take care of those patients.”
The union filed an unfair labor charge against Kaiser with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the company walked away from the bargaining agreement they reached in December. They have now attempted to bypass the agreed-upon deal process. The union had been bargaining with Kaiser since May of 2025.
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In Orange and Los Angeles counties, the pickets will be held at:
- Anaheim Medical Center, 3440 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim;
- Downey Medical Center, 9333 Imperial Highway, Downey;
- South Bay Medical Center, 25825 Vermont Ave., Harbor City;
- Los Angeles Medical Center, 4867 Sunset Blvd., in the East Hollywood area of Los Angeles;
- West Los Angeles Medical Center, 6041 Cadillac Ave., in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles;
- Baldwin Park Medical Center, 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd., Baldwin Park;
- Panorama City Medical Center, 13651 Willard St., Panorama City
- Woodland Hills Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Ave., Woodland Hills.
Kaiser says its proposal is the strongest compensation package in its national bargaining history, and it includes a 21.5% wage increase. The company says its employees are already paid more than those in the same roles at other organizations.
Kaiser said in a statement, “Our focus remains on reaching agreements that recognize the vital contributions of our employees while ensuring high-quality, affordable care. We have proposed 21.5% wage increases – our strongest national bargaining offer ever – and we are prepared to close agreements at local tables now. Employees deserve their raises, and patients deserve our full attention, not prolonged disputes.”
Officials have said hospitals will remain open, and they plan to ensure patients receive the care they need during the strike.
Samantha Macklin
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