Unions have tentative deal with Kaiser Permanente; strike looms at three desert hospitals

A week after tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers went on a three-day strike, the company and labor unions have reached a tentative deal.

“The frontline healthcare workers of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are excited to have reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente,” the union group posted on social media. “We are thankful for the instrumental support of Acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su.”

That announcement comes as workers at three desert hospitals could go on strike in 10 days if a deal isn't reached between their union and Tenet Healthcare.

Roughly 75,000 workers represented by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions walked off the job from Oct. 4 to 6 in what the union billed as the largest health care strike of its kind in U.S. history. Workers walked picket lines across California and in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, D.C. (CalMatters reported that the vast majority of striking workers were in California.)

The union coalition had been pushing for higher wages commensurate with inflation, increased staffing and working conditions. The unions have also repeatedly accused Kaiser of negotiating in bad-faith, cutting performance bonuses and failing to protect employees against subcontracting — allegations Kaiser has denied.

The unions had said unsafe staffing levels “can lead to dangerously long wait times, mistaken diagnosis, and neglect.”

Kaiser officials said recent bargaining sessions led to a “number of tentative agreements” and that the health care system's latest offers address the union's demands. Kaiser officials said the company is offering:

• “across-the-board” wage increases in all markets over four years;

• an improved Performance Sharing Plan with the potential for payoutsof up to $3,750;

• minimum wages of $23 an hour in California and $21 an hour in other markets; and

• renewal of tuition assistance and training programs.

“We remain committed to reaching a new agreement that continues to provide our employees with market-leading wages, excellent benefits, generous retirement income plans, and valuable professional development opportunities,” Kaiser said in a statement. The company also affirmed its commitment to hiring, saying it has already reached a goal of hiring 10,000 new union-represented employees before the end of the year.

“In total over the past two years, Kaiser Permanente has hired more than 50,000 people to join our teams,” a company statement said.

Last week, Kaiser officials issued a statement saying rising inflation has led to a “massive surge” in expenses, making it tough for the company to balance taking care of its employees with being affordable to patients.

Among the workers who were involved in the strike were licensed vocational nurses, emergency department technicians, radiology technicians, ultrasound sonographers, teleservice representatives, respiratory therapists, X-ray technicians, certified nursing assistants, dietary services, behavioral health workers, surgical technicians, pharmacy technicians, transporters, home health aides, phlebotomists and medical assistants, union officials said.

Desert dispute

Meanwhile, union workers at 11 Tenet Healthcare hospitals in California, including three in the desert, voted recently to authorize a five-day strike if progress isn't made at the bargaining table.

A strike would take place Oct. 23 through 27 at hospitals including Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree.

Tenet's contract with SEIU (Service Employees International Union)-United Healthcare Workers West, which governs conditions for about 3,900 employees, expired on June 30.

The union's complaints are similar to those that led the Kaiser Permanente employees to strike. Tenet workers have said the company should increase their wages and hire additional staff members. The union has alleged conditions in Tenet hospitals are unsafe at times, with staff having to take care of more patients at once and people having to wait longer for care.

In July, SEIU-UHW West members held pickets outside of Desert Regional, JFK and Hi-Desert to bring attention to staffing shortages.

Tenet has said it's been bargaining in good faith, including by offering significant wage increases, and accused the union of "spreading false narratives."

Previous reporting from Desert Sun staff writer Ema Sasic was used in this report.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: After strike, unions and Kaiser Permanente reach tentative deal