No facilities currently closed
Thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers across California and Hawaii are on strike as of Monday, January 26. Currently, no Kaiser Permanente facilities or departments are closed due to the strike.
Contract negotiations broke down last month and restarted over the past weekend, “but not in time to avoid Monday’s action, which is set to continue until an agreement is reached,” an ABC 7 news report stated.
A total of 31,000 employees are represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP); 2,800 of those healthcare workers are located here in Northern California, according to a Kaiser Permanente bulletin posted online. Those workers include nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives, acupuncturists, physician assistants, occupational, speech, and physical therapists, and other skilled employees, Kaiser noted.
Kaiser says its latest offer includes a 21% wage increase, but union workers are also demanding better staffing and improved workplace safety, according to the ABC report.
“We just want to see some reinvestment to our unit going forward,” Brian Nitta, president of the Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses, told ABC. “And again, that’s where the difference in terms of increases in salary are, is that we are apart on a few percent. And we would like to see a recognition of all the things that we brought to the table to make the profitability in the last several years.”
In a statement released Sunday, January 25, Kaiser said: “Our focus remains on reaching agreements that recognize the vital contributions of our employees while ensuring excellent, affordable care.”
The union cites safe staffing levels at the top of its list of concerns. Union leaders say staffing shortages are leaving nurses with too much work, and that inadequate staffing is posing risks to patient care and driving nurse burnout, according to a Chief Healthcare Executive report.
Charmaine S. Morales, RN, president of UNAC/UHCP, said in a statement, “We’re authorizing a strike to win staffing that protects patients, win workload standards that stop moral injury, and win the respect and dignity Kaiser has denied for far too long.”
How to get medical care during the strike
“Our hospitals, emergency rooms, and medical offices will remain open,” Kaiser said in an email announcement. “And most appointments, procedures, and care will continue uninterrupted.”
Kaiser members may also continue to get 24/7, on-demand medical advice and virtual care by calling the appointment and advice line at 866-454-8855 (TTY 711), visiting the Kaiser website, or using the Kaiser Permanente app.
If you think you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Scheduled appointments
Kaiser asks those with scheduled appointments not to cancel or reschedule. “We’ll contact you in advance if your appointment or services need to be rescheduled,” the official statement noted.
Prescriptions
Pharmacies will remain open with normal hours, Kaiser stated. Those with pending prescriptions can pick them up in person or have them delivered. To find a pharmacy near you, visit the online directory.
For refills, mail-order delivery service is a convenient option. Sign up for prescription delivery on the Kaiser Pharmacy webpage or the Kaiser Permanente app. Typically, medications are delivered in about 3 to 5 days. There’s no cost for shipping.
Contact Member Services
Members who have questions may call Member Services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed holidays). Hold times may be longer than usual during the strike, Kaiser noted.
- English: 1-800-464-4000
- Spanish: 1-800-788-0616
- Chinese dialects: 1-800-757-7585
- TTY: 711
