Kaiser Permanente workers take part in a 7-day strike

OAN Press Room
UPDATE 8:54 AM – Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tens of thousands of health workers plan to participate in a seven-day strike in six states. The Kaiser Permanente Trade Union Coalition recently announced that nearly 80,000 workers would participate in what is expected to be the biggest strike in the country since 1997.

The coalition alleged that Kaiser Permanente used unfair labor practices. The strike is intended to put pressure on Mr. Kaiser to reestablish a partnership between workers and management and protect middle-class jobs.

The protesters also spoke of under-recruitment problems, saying that patients had to wait two to three weeks for an appointment.

"In the past 15 years, I've worked for Kaiser, but in recent years, Kaiser has gone astray," said Jeff Taylor, pediatric medical assistant. "They do not care for many Medicaid patients and other nonprofit organizations, they outsource their work … we just want Kaiser to come back and take care of patients and the community."

The National Labor Relations Commission has also criticized the health care provider for not negotiating in good faith.

The strikes come just weeks after Kaiser workers marched through the streets of Sacramento in protest at contract negotiations.

"We know that we are under contract, so we already know that it is a matter of salary, but this is not really our main focus," said medical assistant Takeia Watts. "Our main goal is to treat patients … it's a higher profitability than patients and Kaiser has started to benefit from its patients."

Optometrists, radiology technicians, professional nurses and housekeepers will participate in the strike next month. Pickets should be set up in Kaiser Hospitals and the medical office from October 14th.