Oregon Kaiser healthcare workers plan strike over contract disputes

PORTLAND, Ore.— Healthcare workers represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP) at Kaiser Permanente facilities in Oregon and Southwest Washington are planning to strike on October 14, unless a new contract agreement is reached. This potential action, announced today, could last up to five days, according to OFNHP President Sarina Roher.

The OFNHP, which includes nearly 4,000 healthcare professionals, is comprised of four bargaining units that cover registered nurses, laboratory professionals, and other professional staff like social workers and therapists. These workers are employed at various locations including Sunnyside Medical Center, Westside Medical Center, and numerous clinics along the I-5 corridor from Longview, Washington, to Eugene, Oregon. Their contracts ended on September 30, and negotiations have been ongoing but largely unproductive, Roher indicated.

Roher emphasized the need for Kaiser to prioritize patient care over profit margins, citing concerns about increased wait times and reduced interaction with caregivers. "We’re fighting to make sure Kaiser puts patients first—health care should be driven by our mission, not a desire for more profits. Longer wait times for appointments and shorter times with caregivers undermines the quality of care. At Kaiser, our members provide the best care, if patients can get it in a timely manner," Roher stated. She also highlighted the importance of recruiting and retaining skilled healthcare workers, as many are leaving for better-paying opportunities elsewhere.

OFNHP is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). AFT President Randi Weingarten criticized Kaiser for moving away from its foundational principles of collaboration between management and labor. “Kaiser was built as a healthcare system that believed great healthcare required real partnership between management and labor—a real voice at work for the frontline caregivers. Kaiser has abandoned that value. OFNHP members are looking to provide great healthcare in Oregon, but by every measure, Kaiser doesn’t want to even bargain the basics,” Weingarten expressed.

Weingarten also noted the refusal of Kaiser to offer salaries that are competitive, stressing that frontline workers need the right conditions to deliver the expected quality of care. “They refuse to offer competitive salaries even though Kaiser employees and other staff are needed for patients to get the healthcare they deserve. Frontline employees—whether they’re at the bedside, in the lab or counseling patients—must have the necessary tools and conditions to provide Kaiser patients with what they expect,” she added.

The OFNHP is part of the Alliance of Health Care Unions, which encompasses 62,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare professionals across 23 local unions in eight national unions. This Alliance is negotiating a national agreement to supplement local contracts. Contracts expired for 52,000 Kaiser Permanente workers around the same time, and most have issued 10-day strike notices. If no agreement is reached, strikes could occur at Kaiser facilities in various regions.

Roher expressed hope that their strike notice will lead to meaningful negotiations. “We hope that this strike notice will push Kaiser to come to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair agreement that is good for healthcare workers, patients and the communities we serve,” she said.