Most of Kaiser’s facilities are located in California, where the nonprofit is headquartered and the momentum has gone into recession after a summer of strikes and labor protests. The onslaught of labor action has spread nationally, with the United Auto Workers striking American auto manufacturers. The health care sector, in particular, has experienced a wave of labor strife fueled by pandemic burnout and related staffing crises.
The Kaiser walkout also comes as a minimum wage health care bill sits on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. The proposal — a deal defeated by health care employers and unions — would have guaranteed a $25 minimum wage for California health care workers by 2026. It was one of labor’s top priorities in the state’s legislative session after the Democratic governor frustrated the movement by vetoing the proposals. It would have imposed stricter limits on the deployment of autonomous trucks and given striking workers access to unemployment benefits.
Sep. The strike began in mid-September when unions voted to walk off the job if no agreement was reached by 30. That deadline expired without a deal for employees to receive higher pay with annual pay. Increases over the life of the contract.
Union officials said Wednesday they had reached tentative agreements on some benefits issues, but other sticking points remained. Costa on Friday declined to comment on the details of the negotiations.
Hospitals and clinics remained open throughout the shutdown as doctors and registered nurses remained on duty, although some services were reported to be sluggish. The first employees to return to work will begin shifts at 6 a.m. Saturday.
