Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers across California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington have gone on strike on Wednesday, potentially causing disruptions to the healthcare system that serves nearly 13 million Americans, reports the Associated Press.
The strike, approved by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions and representing about 85,000 employees, is driven by demands for pay raises and increased staffing.
Kaiser Permanente has assured that its 39 hospitals and emergency rooms will remain open, but delays on appointments and non-urgent procedures are expected.
Union members are pushing for a $25 hourly minimum wage and annual increases of 7% for the first two years, followed by 6.25% for the subsequent two years. They argue that understaffing compromises patient care and boosts the hospital system’s profits. In response, Kaiser Permanente has proposed minimum hourly wages between $21 and $23 next year.
The strike comes as the healthcare giant reported operating revenue growth of 7% in the second quarter of the year, reaching over $25 billion. While it returned to profitability due to strong investment income, it still faces challenges related to inflation and labor shortages.
The workers’ last contract was negotiated in 2019, before the pandemic, making this strike a significant development in ongoing labor disputes within the healthcare sector.