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Kaiser Permanente workers strike for 2nd day
Kaiser Permanente workers took to the street for the second day of protests.
LOS ANGELES - Healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente are back on the picket lines for the second day of a planned five-day strike.
Despite inclement weather, thousands of unionized workers are participating in the walkout across 500 locations in California, Hawaii, and Oregon, demanding better wages and prioritization from their employer.
What we know:
The strike involves a diverse group of healthcare professionals, including registered nurses, pharmacists, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians, and other healthcare workers.
Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance of Healthcare Unions have been negotiating since May, with wages being a central issue. Kaiser claims that their latest offer would increase wages by 21.5% over a four-year contract, stating that Alliance-represented employees currently earn 16% more than their peers elsewhere.
RELATED: Kaiser Permanente workers begin five-day strike Tuesday
What they're saying:
"It's not a fair offer when we're already forty percent below market rate. So the fact that someone tells you they're gonna give you 21.5% within four years, it's not 21.5% even now, it's within four years. So by 2029, you're gonna give us 21%, by then we're gonna be 60 to 80% below market. So it's it's too little, too late, we need it now," a healthcare worker told FOX 11.
The other side:
Kaiser Permanente has assured that their hospitals and medical offices will remain open and staffed during the strike. They emphasize that the proposed wage increase is competitive and above market rates.
Kaiser said it has brought in nurses from other non-striking locations, so patients can still receive care, but some appointments have been changed to virtual visits and most elective and non-urgent surgical cases have been postponed.
What's next:
The strike is set to continue for three more days, with both parties yet to reach an agreement. Negotiations are ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain as workers push for immediate wage adjustments and prioritization of their concerns.
The Source: The information in this article is based on on-the-ground reporting, including a direct interview with a striking healthcare worker. We also referenced official statements from both Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance of Healthcare Unions to provide both sides of the ongoing wage negotiations.