The massive health care strike that commenced this week, fueled by wage disputes and staffing shortages, reached its final day on Friday without a resolution. Industry leader Kaiser Permanente and the unions representing 75,000 workers were unable to reach a deal during the three-day strike, which is officially scheduled to end on Saturday at 6 a.m.
Kaiser’s hospitals and clinics, serving nearly 13 million Americans, are expected to resume operations as workers return to their posts. The most recent bargaining session concluded midday Wednesday, with additional sessions set for October 12 and 13, as announced by the unions on Friday.
For many, the decision to walk away from their important jobs was not an easy one. Josephine Rios, a 55-year-old nurse attendant in Irvine, California, revealed the financial burden this strike places on workers living paycheck to paycheck. Rios stated, “We can’t afford to strike for a long time, but it’s a double-edged sword. We can’t afford not to strike.”
Despite a fall heat wave and scorching temperatures reaching 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius), picketing remained unwavering at the Los Angeles Medical Center in Hollywood. Lakeshia Howze, a unit secretary for the emergency department, remarked, “The energy out here today is high. Everybody’s still onboard.”
This strike transpired as a last resort in California, where the majority of Kaiser’s facilities are located, along with Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Union officials cited the exacerbation of staffing shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic as the catalyst for their actions. Their intention was to garner public support and bring awareness to these pressing issues.
Caroline Lucas, the executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, expressed her hope that the last few days of striking have escalated this critical issue. She emphasized that no health care worker desires to go on strike.
Meanwhile, Kaiser, headquartered in Oakland, California, warned that the work stoppage may lead to appointment delays and the rescheduling of non-urgent procedures. Hilary Costa, a spokesperson for Kaiser, stated that the company is diligently working to reconvene bargaining as soon as possible.
As the strike concludes, the fight for fair wages and adequate staffing in the health care industry remains unresolved.
Kaiser Workers Demand Higher Wages Amidst Profit Surge
Unions representing Kaiser workers recently called for a minimum hourly wage of $25, along with yearly wage increases. Despite Kaiser’s $2.1 billion profit for the quarter, the company’s proposal fell significantly short, suggesting hourly wages between $21 and $23, depending on the location. Furthermore, Kaiser announced that it has successfully recruited an additional 10,000 employees, bringing the total workforce to 51,000 since 2022.
Amidst this intensifying labor dispute, union members argue that understaffing issues not only benefit the hospital system’s profits but also negatively impact patient care. The negotiations between the unions and company officials have been marred by allegations of bad faith bargaining. While some tentative agreements have been reached, crucial areas such as long-term staffing plans and wage increases remain unresolved.
Representing approximately 85,000 employees of the health system nationwide, the coalition is eagerly awaiting Kaiser’s decision to resume talks.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for the coalition expressed their readiness to engage in negotiations at any time, stating, “They could call now and say, ‘We want to pull together a Zoom in 20 minutes.’ We would be on that Zoom in 20 minutes.”
It is worth noting that the workers’ previous contract was negotiated in 2019, prior to the onset of the pandemic. In a year marked by work stoppages across various industries, including transportation, entertainment, and hospitality, the healthcare sector has been particularly affected. Facing burnout from heavy workloads exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has witnessed multiple strikes.
Acknowledging the plight of union members, President Joe Biden expressed his unwavering support for striking workers during a recent statement. Notably, President Biden made headlines when he personally joined picketing United Auto Workers in Michigan, becoming the first sitting president in U.S. history to actively participate in a picket line.
The labor dispute between Kaiser workers and the healthcare giant sheds light on the broader struggle for fair wages and improved conditions within the industry. As negotiations continue, the impact on both workers and patients remains a significant concern.