Kaiser Strike: Nurses Hold Strong for Patient Care in Fourth Week

Entering its fourth consecutive week, the strike involving over 31,000 nurses and healthcare professionals across California and Hawaii continues to highlight significant labor disputes with Kaiser Permanente. These professionals, members of the UNAC/UHCP, an affiliate of AFSCME, are advocating for improved working conditions that prioritize both provider well-being and patient care. Key issues include demands for safer staffing levels and the reduction of appointment backlogs that currently extend for months.

According to UNAC/UHCP members, Kaiser frequently schedules multiple patients for the same time slots, resulting in extended wait times for necessary medical attention. This scheduling practice has sparked concerns among the healthcare workers who are striving for reforms to ensure timely access to quality care.

Marla Hunt, a registered nurse with nearly four decades of experience at Kaiser West Los Angeles, expressed her discontent: "I've been here 38 years. This is not the same Kaiser I came to. The Kaiser I came to, they cared about the patients, they cared about the nurses. They cared if you were happy at work and wanted to come back the next day. But now, they don't care. They want us to work at the top of our scope and do more with less. And the patients are the ones who suffer."

Despite claims from Kaiser about financial limitations preventing adequate staffing, financial reports reveal that the organization earned over $9.3 billion in profits last year and holds more than $76 billion in reserves. The disconnect between these figures and staffing practices has fueled the ongoing protests.

Throughout the strike, solidarity among UNAC/UHCP members has been a powerful force. "Solidarity has been our strongest ally," said Giana Valenzula, a registered nurse at Kaiser West Los Angeles. "We've been encouraging each other, communicating with each other, and reminding each other of what we're fighting for."

Looking to the future, Hunt remains determined to advocate for lasting change, emphasizing the importance of their current struggle: “I’m fighting for the nurses in the future,” she said, “because if we don’t fight now, it’s going to get worse.”