A coalition of eight unions representing 75,000 employees of Kaiser Permanente has announced that they have not reached an agreement with the company, resulting in the potential for the largest healthcare strike in US history. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, which includes workers from hospitals and medical offices across several states, has stated that they are far apart from the company on important issues such as pay raises, pension plans, and protection against outsourcing. The coalition’s contract officially expired on Saturday night, and if an agreement is not reached, the strike will take place on Wednesday.
Kaiser Permanente has expressed its commitment to continue negotiating in good faith and ensuring that operations continue normally until the planned strike. The company remains optimistic about reaching an agreement and avoiding a strike, stating that contract expirations do not automatically lead to a strike. They have contingency plans in place to ensure that members continue to receive safe and high-quality care throughout the strike. Despite the potential strike, hospitals and emergency departments will remain open.
The healthcare workers are seeking improvements to their working conditions and compensation, including across-the-board pay raises and better pension plans. They are also requesting protections against outsourcing, which they believe could negatively impact job security. As negotiations continue, both parties are hopeful that a resolution can be reached to avoid the largest healthcare strike in US history. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided.