The largest healthcare strike in the nation's history could start on Wednesday, impacting Southern California.
The contract for an estimated 75,000 Kaiser Permanente union employees expired at midnight without a new agreement in place. Twelve million patients in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Virginia and Washington DC will be affected. The union represents hospital support staff like nursing assistants, EMTs and pharmacists.
"We had nurses that just got burned out and just left. And unfortunately, we lost a lot of very good healthcare workers to death," said one worker. But the statement noted the two sides remain"far apart" on pay raises, protections against subcontracting and outsourcing, support and recognition of the union, an amount for performance-sharing bonuses and a medical plan for retirees.
Kaiser says it has accelerated hiring to help cover the shortage and provided hundreds of millions of dollars in support benefits. But it says it is prepared to cover patients if a strike happens. "Kaiser Permanente and leaders and members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are continuing to bargain to reach an agreement. We continue to make progress on key issues such as a redesigned performance sharing plan with updated payout opportunities.
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