Southern California Kaiser Mental Health Workers Plan Open-Ended Strike
Kaiser Faces Potential Strike by Southern California Mental Health Workers
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA — An impending strike by 2,400 mental health professionals in Southern California is set to commence on Monday, as negotiations with Kaiser Permanente reach a critical point. The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) is urging the California Department of Managed Health Care to prevent a recurrence of 2022’s events when Kaiser canceled over 111,000 therapy sessions during a Northern California strike, actions that led to a significant $50 million fine and a $150 million settlement.
In a recent letter, Fred Seavey, NUHW Researcher, expressed concern over the potential for Kaiser to adopt the same strategies as those used in previous strikes, potentially compromising patient safety. Seavey stated, “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. Such methods would jeopardize the health and safety of Kaiser’s enrollees, many of whom are diagnosed with disorders that can have life-threatening consequences.”
The strike involves mental health workers such as therapists, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurses who serve Kaiser’s 4.8 million members across Southern California. Their collective bargaining agreement expired on September 30, with the final negotiation meeting scheduled for today.
State law mandates that Kaiser maintain mental health services during strikes, similar to its requirement to uphold medical care. This includes arranging for care through out-of-network providers when in-network therapists are unavailable. If an appointment is canceled, it must be rescheduled promptly to ensure continuity of care.
The 2022 strike saw Kaiser fall short of these obligations, as it canceled 111,803 therapy appointments and failed to reschedule or offer out-of-network options for most patients, despite continuing to collect premiums.
“Kaiser mental health professionals are working around the clock to document for Kaiser exactly when patients need treatment and which patients have more urgent needs,” remarked NUHW President Sophia Mendoza. She emphasized Kaiser’s legal duty to provide care during a strike and called for immediate enforcement of these laws. “It’s not enough to fine Kaiser for violations after the fact. Kaiser can afford fines, but its members can’t afford to have their care illegally delayed and denied.”
To prevent a repeat of the previous mass cancellations, NUHW has proposed several measures to the Department of Managed Health Care:
- Establish a process for Kaiser patients to file complaints about canceled appointments with expedited reviews.
- Mandate that Kaiser informs all Southern California members of their rights to receive ongoing care during the strike, including arranging for out-of-network care as required by law.
- Conduct real-time monitoring of Kaiser’s operations through site inspections and daily reporting from clinical sites.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers represents 19,000 healthcare workers across California and Hawaii, including over 4,700 Kaiser mental health professionals.
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