Kaiser Workers Strike Gaining Support from Officials and Unions
On a bustling day of demonstrations, picket lines were set up in Riverside, Woodland Hills, Irvine, and Baldwin Park, drawing significant attention and support.
Among notable supporters, Tony Thurmond, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, stood out as the first statewide office holder to join the protest in Riverside, arriving early with refreshments. Other political figures such as Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, Baldwin Park Mayor Emmanuel Estrada, and West Covina Mayor Brian Calderón Tabatabai also lent their presence, alongside former Congressman Gil Cisneros. The picket lines saw backing from various labor groups, including local labor federations, the United Steelworkers, and Kaiser-affiliated union members.
From Riverside, Julie Siegel-Turner voiced concerns about the distressing delays patients face between appointments. Similarly, Ligia Pacheco expressed her reasons for joining the strike, while Bliss Baker highlighted the challenges of insufficient preparation time for patient care at the LAMC picket line.
A press release from the Department of Managed Health Care stated it is closely monitoring the availability of behavioral health services at Kaiser amid the strike. The department asserted that Kaiser must uphold timely access and appropriate care, advising Kaiser members to reach out to member services first and the DMHC Help Center at 1-888-466-2219 for unresolved or urgent issues.
While media coverage peaked initially, Spectrum TV covered the Baldwin Park picket, with Telemundo and the Los Angeles Daily News reporting from Woodland Hills. The Associated Press also covered the strike, spreading the news to various national outlets.
Support across social media platforms was evident, with endorsements from the National Association of Social Workers California Chapter, United Nurses Association of California, LatinXTherapy, More Perfect Union, the L.A. Labor Federation, and Fight for a Union.
Members are urged to amplify the strike's message via social media, utilizing the Social Media Toolkit for sample posts and graphics.
The NASW's California chapter shared a statement from Executive Director Kimberly Warmsley, emphasizing the necessity for "realistic working conditions and equitable pay" for professionals delivering essential services. She praised social workers at Kaiser for their "unwavering dedication" and defiance against a "broken mental health system."
Negotiations are set to continue on Wednesday and Friday. Members wishing to attend Friday's session can fill out this form.
View the photo gallery below, and explore more on NUHW’s social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.












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