Kaiser to Lay Off 42 Nurses Despite $13 Billion Profit, Protest Planned

Healthcare Workers Rally Against Planned Layoffs at Kaiser Permanente

Amid significant profits reported by Kaiser Permanente, nurses at its San Rafael facilities are gearing up for a demonstration on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The planned rally is in response to the healthcare organization's decision to lay off 42 registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) from its outpatient clinics, a move that has sparked concern among the staff. This announcement follows a year where Kaiser reported nearly $13 billion in profit, as highlighted by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

Nurses have raised alarms about the impact of these layoffs on patient care, citing already lengthy wait times for appointments and procedures. The proposed staff reduction could exacerbate these delays, potentially affecting patient outcomes. The layoffs would impact approximately one-third of the nursing staff at Kaiser San Rafael clinics.

"It's absolutely unacceptable that Kaiser made $13 billion last year, yet is cutting staff," expressed Colleen Gibbons, an RN in medical-surgical at Kaiser San Rafael and the chief nurse representative. She noted the existing long wait times for critical tests and procedures such as colonoscopies and skin cancer screenings.

Details of the Rally:

Who: RNs and NPs from Kaiser San Rafael facilities

What: Rally against planned layoffs

When: Thursday, Aug. 21, Noon 12 p.m.

Where: Kaiser San Rafael downtown clinic, 1033 3rd St., San Rafael, CA, sidewalk outside clinic

Hunter Mills, a nurse in the Special Needs Department, commented on the situation, stating, "These layoffs are not because there is no need for our care. The demand is greater than ever. The layoffs are actually all part of Kaiser’s grand master plan to keep pushing more and more patients to make do with telehealth, because it’s way cheaper for Kaiser to provide. But we nurses know that telephone calls and video visits are poor substitutes for a provider examining you in person, up close, in the flesh. Kaiser needs to reverse these layoffs, now!”

The CNA/NNU has been actively mobilizing the community to oppose the layoffs through various outreach efforts, including flyering and media ads. They urge concerned Kaiser members and patients to contact Maria Ansari, CEO and Executive Director of The Permanente Medical Group, to advocate for the reversal of the layoff decision.

The CNA represents around 500 registered nurses employed across Kaiser San Rafael’s hospital and outpatient facilities.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation, boasting more than 100,000 members in over 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.