Kaiser Mental Health Workers in Southern California Plan Strike

Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Professionals to Commence Strike Over Systemic Issues

Strike Preparations Underway

Workers will prepare picket signs on Sunday, October 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the NUHW’s Glendale office, ahead of their strike starting Monday, October 21. Mental health professionals in San Diego will also be available for interviews on Sunday, October 20.

Southern California Action

Beginning Monday, October 21, nearly 2,400 mental health professionals will initiate a strike at Kaiser Permanente facilities across Southern California. The action comes in response to unresolved issues within the mental health system, which led to a $50 million fine from the state of California last year.

The striking workers, including psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses, provide services to Kaiser's 4.8 million members. Their previous contract expired on September 30, and no subsequent bargaining sessions are scheduled before the strike starts.

Jessica Rentz, a Kaiser therapist, expressed the workers' frustrations: "We want to be with our patients, not on a picket line, but we can’t keep working in a system that treats mental health care like an assembly line job and denies us the time and resources to provide the care we know our patients need."

Strike Schedule and Locations

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, picket lines will form the first week of the strike. Most participants will arrive after 8 a.m., with lunchtime rallies featuring community leaders. For more information on picket line locations and times, click here.

Key locations for Monday, October 21, include:

  • Los Angeles Medical Center, 4867 W. Sunset Blvd.
  • San Diego Medical Center, 9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

Additional picket lines will form in Fontana and Anaheim, with some workers joining the Los Angeles Medical Center lines.

Pre-Strike Events

On Sunday, October 20, the media can access the NUHW’s Southern California headquarters at 225 West Broadway, Suite 400, Glendale, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Maggie Sisco at 989-802–1261 or msisco@nuhw.org for building access.

In San Diego, professionals will be available for interviews. To schedule, contact Matthew Artz at 510-435-8035 or martz@nuhw.org.

Ongoing Concerns Over Mental Health Care

Kaiser Permanente has faced scrutiny for its mental health services, having been fined $4 million in 2014 for inadequate care access, and $50 million last year, marking a record penalty. Kaiser acknowledged a shortage of behavioral health providers, leading to long waits for therapy appointments.

A previous 10-week strike in Northern California led to increased staffing and improved patient care time allocations. However, similar changes have not been implemented in Southern California, creating disparities in care between the regions.

Southern California employs 40% fewer therapy providers than Northern California, despite having 200,000 more members. This staffing gap contributes to high turnover, with 25% of hired professionals leaving since January 2021, often within their first year.

Kaiser's Southern California workers are seeking parity in working conditions and benefits, including equitable pay and restored pensions. "Kaiser says all the right things when it comes to mental health care, but its actions tell a different story," stated Josh Garcia, a psychologist in San Diego.

Equity Demands

  • Patient Care Time: Workers demand 7 hours weekly for non-session patient care duties, matching Northern California provisions, against the proposed 4-hour guarantee in Southern California.
  • Fair Pay: Raises to match non-mental health employees’ salaries, addressing years without cost-of-living adjustments.
  • Restoration of Pensions: Reinstatement of pensions for newly hired mental health professionals, aligning with other Kaiser employees.

Adriana Webb, a medical social worker, emphasized, "Everything we’re proposing in negotiations, Kaiser is already providing to the vast majority of its workforce." She urges Kaiser to address existing inequities.

Appointment Cancellations Concerns

Past strikes in Northern California resulted in over 111,000 canceled therapy sessions, raising concerns about potential disruptions. State law mandates continuous care during strikes, requiring out-of-network arrangements if necessary. NUHW's Fred Seavey called on the DMHC to monitor possible cancellations and inform members of their rights.

He noted, "Given Kaiser’s documented track record, we are concerned that Kaiser intends to respond to the upcoming strike by employing the same methods it has used during previous work stoppages."

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