• More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers have initiated an open-ended strike in California and Hawaii.
• The strike follows stalled contract negotiations focused on fair wages and safe staffing levels.
• The union claims Kaiser is using intimidation tactics against workers regarding strike participation.
• Kaiser Permanente maintains that negotiations have been ongoing and that they are committed to providing fair compensation.
• Contingency plans are in place to manage patient care during the strike.

Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers across California and Hawaii walked off the job at 7 a.m. PT on Monday in response to stalled contract negotiations. More than 31,000 registered nurses, nurse anesthetists, pharmacists, midwives, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals are participating in this strike, which marks one of the largest work stoppages among healthcare workers this year, according to latimes and abcnews.

The workers are represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), which stated that the strike was necessary due to the healthcare provider's failure to address staffing shortages and fair wage demands. The union alleges that Kaiser has engaged in unfair labor practices by walking away from talks in December and discouraging participation in the strike through intimidation tactics, according to abcnews, reuters, and latimes.

The backdrop to this strike includes prior labor actions, such as a five-day walkout in October, where workers highlighted persistent staffing issues leading to delays in patient care and increased risk of errors. UNAC/UHCP's president, Charmaine Morales, emphasized the necessity of returning to the bargaining table, stating, “The delay is disappointing. They need to return to the table, that’s the biggest thing,” according to abcnews and reuters.

In response, Kaiser Permanente asserts that it has been negotiating in good faith since May and recently agreed to return to local bargaining sessions. They described the union's demands as excessive, offering a wage increase of 21.5%, which they claim is their strongest offer ever. According to Kaiser, “Employees deserve their raises, and patients deserve our full attention, not prolonged disputes,” as stated by senior vice president Camille Applin-Jones, according to reuters and latimes.

As the strike progresses, Kaiser Permanente has implemented contingency plans to keep hospitals and nearly all medical offices operational, noting that while services will continue, some in-person appointments may need to be adapted to virtual formats, and certain elective surgeries may be postponed, according to abcnews and latimes.