Kaiser Permanente workers poised to strike on Wednesday

More than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers are poised to begin a three-day strike Wednesday, if their demands were not met.

Some of the main concerns felt by employees are alleged short-staff conditions, putting profits over patient care, and the lack of wage increases.

“It just seems like there is no concern for short-staffing and patient care," said Henry Perez, an intensive care unit secretary at Kaiser Permanente in Modesto. "It’s mind blowing to see Kaiser Permanente that was once an industry leader that liked to call themselves the gold standard of care, be so out of touch with employees, with their patients, and their more focused on putting profits over patient care.”

The workers’ union contract recently expired and Kaiser staff have been requesting improvements to staffing and wage increases in light of rising inflation costs, the Washington Post reported.

The union warned that if negotiations did not start, the union could call for a longer strike.

The strike would involve support and other staff, including X-ray and lab technicians. Additionally, sanitation workers who disinfect rooms and pharmacy workers.

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions said a strike would affect facilities in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

In the High Desert, Kaiser medical offices in Hesperia and Victorville would also be affected.

‘Treating us like zeros’

“They always praised us as healthcare heroes during the pandemic, and now they’re treating us like zeros by not bargaining in good faith,” Perez alleged.

However, Kaiser officials told CBS News that leaders were meeting with unions and “making progress.”

"A strike is not inevitable, and it is certainly not justified. Our goal is to reach a fair and equitable agreement that strengthens Kaiser Permanente as the best place to work and ensures that the high-quality care our members expect from us remains affordable and easy to access,” according to a statement from Kaiser said.

Keven Dardon, a patient access representative at Kaiser Permanente’s Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Oregon, said his department previously had some 60 employees and now operates with less than 40 because of cuts to the department.

“It’s really taken a toll in the hospital setting and in the medical offices that we have here,” Dardon said. “That’s what we’re fighting for. Our frontline employees are demanding Kaiser Permanente executives come to the table. We’ve proposed the things that would fix the staffing issue, and we’ve made tons of proposals, but because our executives just aren’t listening to us, they are just not coming to the table to even entertain those proposals.”

Kaiser disputes staffing crisis

A Kaiser Permanente spokesperson stated that the healthcare provider leads total compensation in all markets where they operate and disputed staffing crisis claims from workers and the union.

“Despite the acute shortage of health care workers nationally, we have been able to hire more than 50,000 frontline employees in the last two years: 29,000 people in 2022, and another 22,000 so far this year.

Included in this year’s new hires are more than 9,800 people hired into jobs represented by the coalition,” a Kaiser Permanente spokesperson stated.

Hospitals, other services remain open

Doctors and many nurses would not participate in the strike, although some nurses, therapists and aides could also walk out.

“As a result of this strike, we may experience high call volumes resulting in longer than usual wait times,” Kaiser officials said. “We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.”

Hospitals, emergency departments, and pharmacies will remain open during the strike and will be staffed by physicians, trained and experienced managers and staff, Kaiser officials added.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Kaiser Permanente workers poised to strike on Wednesday