Country’s largest hospital systems fail to produce new contract
Will Kessler
Daily Caller News Foundation
Health care workers in five states began striking Wednesday morning as negotiations with one of the country’s largest hospital systems continue to fail to produce a new contract.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions (CKPU) sent 75,000 workers on strike at a top insurer and health care system operator, Kaiser Permanente, amid complaints over low wages and staffing shortages, according to The Associated Press. Hospitals will remain open during the strike as doctors are not participating and thousands of temporary workers have been brought in to fill the gaps.
“Given the urgency of Kaiser’s staffing crisis, frontline healthcare workers are ready to sit down with Kaiser executives whenever they’re ready to bargain in good faith — including up until the scheduled strike start time,” Caroline Lucas, executive director of the CKPU, said in a statement. “However, no agreement can be made until Kaiser executives stop bargaining in bad faith and committing unfair labor practices. Tens of thousands of frontline Kaiser healthcare workers across the country are ready for an unfair labor practice strike at 6 a.m. today. Patients and workers need dramatic action now to solve the Kaiser short staffing crisis and to ensure our patients’ safety.”
Those striking include vocational nurses, home health aides, ultrasound sonographers, and technicians for radiology, x-rays and more, according to the AP. Kaiser Permanente operates 39 hospitals across the country and provides insurance coverage to nearly 13 million people.
The union is asking for a $25 per hour minimum wage and 7% wage hikes for two years, then 6.25% wage hikes for the two years after that, according to the AP. Kaiser Permanente has offered a $21 to $23 per hour wage increase, depending on the location.
The union approved the strike to last for three days in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington and only one day in Virginia and Washington, D.C., according to the AP.
The United Auto Workers are also currently on strike as contract negotiations with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis continue to fail to reach an agreement. The union has only sent workers at 43 manufacturing plants on strike, sparing the rest in a strategy to apply incremental pressure on the companies while not exhausting their strike fund.
CKPU deferred the Daily Caller News Foundation to its previous statement. Kaiser Permanente did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Also read:
- State’s umpire-in-chief goes on recruiting trip in his final season as a baseball umpire
Tim Stevens is spending his last season traveling to every Washington umpire association, working to address the shortage of officials and encourage young people to join the ranks. - POLL: After hearing state leaders describe the I-5 Bridge as vulnerable in an earthquake, what is your reaction?
State and local leaders describe the I-5 Bridge as structurally at risk but recommend drivers continue crossing it while complex replacement plans unfold. - Opinion: Historical state income tax and another massive operating budget highlight the end of the 2026 legislative session
Rep. John Ley details the passage of a state income tax, an expanding $80 billion budget, and new Clark County infrastructure funding following the 2026 legislative session. - VIDEO: Legal challenges certain as Gov. Ferguson prepares to sign new income tax
Senate Minority Leader John Braun and other legislators expect legal challenges and initiative efforts to follow Gov. Ferguson’s signature on Washington’s new income tax law affecting high earners and businesses. - Vancouver Fire Department honors firefighters, community members at annual awards ceremony
Acts of bravery, including river rescues and life-saving interventions by both residents and first responders, were recognized at the Vancouver Fire Department’s annual awards ceremony. - ‘Cram the Cruiser’ to benefit Battle Ground and Prairie High Schools
Officer Phil Anderson’s food pantry at Battle Ground High inspired Prairie High to launch its own, providing snacks and building bridges between students and law enforcement. - Opinion: Fighting for transparency in Washington government
A recent court decision allows Washington lawmakers broad new secrecy over internal records, as advocates report rising obstacles to government transparency and public engagement.
