California Legislators Urge Kaiser CEO to End Mental Health Strike

California Lawmakers Urge Resolution of Kaiser Permanente Strike

Glendale, Calif – In a significant move, numerous California legislators are pressing Kaiser Permanente CEO Greg Adams to address the ongoing nearly two-month-long strike by Southern California's mental health professionals. The lawmakers are advocating for renewed negotiations and acceptance of the union's settlement proposals.

Amid reports of widespread therapy session cancellations during the strike, coupled with a recent citation from California regulators over inadequate mental health services, legislative leaders have called for urgent action. They have urged Adams to "resume good faith negotiations with NUHW as soon as possible, and to agree to the union’s reasonable contract proposals in order to ensure the delivery of timely and appropriate behavioral health services to your patients."

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has coordinated a letter signed by 40 Assembly members, while Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire's letter includes signatures from 20 senators. Such collective action in a labor dispute is rare, highlighting the urgency given Kaiser’s history of mental health care deficiencies, particularly during strikes.

The California Department of Managed Health Care imposed a $50 million fine on Kaiser in 2023 for mental health service understaffing, demanding a Corrective Action Plan that remains unproduced. Additionally, Kaiser was cited for cancelling 111,803 therapy appointments during a 2022 strike in Northern California.

Ongoing violations during the Southern California strike have been documented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, including forcibly delaying appointments, cancelling group therapy, and understaffing hospice services.

Kaiser’s legal obligation to maintain mental health services during strikes is under scrutiny, as its contingency plan lacked detailed provisions for its 4.8 million members across the region.

Rivas expressed concern over the inadequacy of the plan and the resultant appointment cancellations, stating, “I have seen the strike contingency plan that Kaiser submitted to DMHC, and I am greatly concerned that the plan does not provide sufficient detail regarding Kaiser’s arrangements to prevent widespread appointment cancellations without timely and appropriate replacement services.”

The strike involves 2,400 mental health professionals, including therapists, nurses, social workers, and psychologists, who have been striking since October 21. Their demands include:

• A provision for 7 hours weekly for essential patient care tasks outside of appointments, similar to their Northern California counterparts.
• Restoration of pensions for Southern California mental health workers, aligning with benefits provided elsewhere in Kaiser.
• Salary adjustments to reduce the disparity with medical care therapists at Kaiser.

Picket lines are active from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays across Southern California.

Picket Locations for Monday

• Los Angeles Medical Center, 4867 W. Sunset Blvd.
• San Diego Medical Center, 9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
• Fontana Medical Center, 9961 Sierra Ave., Fontana
• Anaheim Medical Center, 3440 East La Palma Ave., Anaheim

Click here for a fact sheet about the strike.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers represents 19,000 healthcare workers in California and Hawai’i, including over 4,700 Kaiser mental health professionals.