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31,000 Kaiser Nurses and Clinicians Launch Open-Ended Strike in California and Hawaii

Union leaders seek enforceable staffing standards alongside larger raises after talks halted in December.

Overview

  • UNAC/UHCP says the walkout began at 7 a.m. Monday across more than two dozen hospitals and hundreds of clinics, spanning roles from registered nurses to pharmacists and therapists.
  • Kaiser says hospitals and emergency departments remain open under contingency plans, with some pharmacies closed and certain elective surgeries or nonurgent visits rescheduled or shifted to virtual care.
  • The health system cites a 21.5% wage offer over four years and higher-than-market pay, while the union presses for roughly 25% plus staffing guarantees tied to patient safety.
  • UNAC/UHCP has filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB alleging Kaiser walked away from bargaining, as Kaiser pursues a federal lawsuit seeking to break up the national bargaining alliance.
  • The strike has no set end date, local bargaining discussions continue, and pharmacy workers with UFCW Local 770 have given notice of a separate unfair-labor-practice strike that could start Feb. 3 at select Southern California locations.