Kaiser Permanente Health Care Workers Strike: Not Just Pay and Benefits

Strikes by unionized health care workers and physicians have been comparatively rare in all states except California for decades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the past 30 years 56.3% of all health care workers strikes have taken place in California, with each other state experiencing 1% to 6% of all health care worker strikes. The Kaiser Permanente strike that began today (October 4) is not only unique because it is multi-state and the largest health care industry strike in history, but also because the union's demand for better wages and benefits is accompanied by vigorous complaints about understaffing. Striking Kaiser workers carry picket signs accusing the company of the unfair labor practice of bargaining in bad faith -- not just unacceptable pay -- resulting from the chronic staff shortages that all of the health care industry has been suffering in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the past 30 years, 88% of all major health care strikes have involved hospitals, not primary care organizations, nursing homes, residential care or other ambulatory services.

Negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement that provides for mandatory hiring of more workers is not only somewhat abnormal, but also a difficult challenge for management. No doubt Kaiser Permanente has already been making every effort to meet staffing needs. Will a three day strike as currently taking place enable a solution to the industry-wide shortage of medical personnel? Or will the staffing shortage merely add furor and motivation to the 75,000 striking Kaiser workers?