Nurses and health care workers throughout California and Hawaii started an open-ended strike Monday alleging unfair labor practices amid drawn-out contract talks.
Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, approximately 31,000 members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals pledged to keep the strike going until a fair labor agreement is reached. Union members include registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians and other specialty health care providers.
“We’re not going on strike to make noise,” registered nurse Charmaine S. Morales, president of UNAC/UHCP, said in a statement. “We’re striking because Kaiser has committed serious unfair labor practices and because Kaiser refuses to bargain in good faith over staffing that protects patients, workload standards that stop moral injury and the respect and dignity that Kaiser caregivers have been denied for far too long.
“Striking is the lawful power of working people, and we are prepared to use it on behalf of our profession and patients,” Morales said.
Picketing workers claim to be experiencing a crisis caused by Kaiser’s failure to invest in safe staffing levels, timely access to quality care and fair wages for frontline caregivers.
The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Kaiser with the National Labor Relations Board that alleged the company deserted the bargaining table in December and has tried to circumvent the agreed-upon national bargaining process. Collective bargaining with Kaiser started in May.
Picket lines started Monday at more than two-dozen Kaiser hospitals and clinics in Northern California, Central California, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, as well as in Hawaii.
Nurses and health care pros at Riverside Medical Center, 10800 Magnolia Ave., are among the strike demonstrators. Strike locations also include the San Bernardino County Fontana Medical Center, 9961 Sierra Ave. in Fontana, and at the Ontario Medical Center, 2295 S. Vineyard Ave in Ontario.
In Orange and LA counties, strike demonstrations are at:
- Anaheim Medical Center, 3440 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim;
- Downey Medical Center, 9333 Imperial Highway, Downey;
- South Bay Medical Center, 25825 Vermont Ave., Harbor City;
- Los Angeles Medical Center, 4867 Sunset Blvd., in the East Hollywood area of LA;
- West Los Angeles Medical Center, 6041 Cadillac Ave., in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles;
- Baldwin Park Medical Center, 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd., Baldwin Park;
- Panorama City Medical Center, 13651 Willard St., Panorama City; and
- Woodland Hills Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Ave., Woodland Hills.
A statement from Kaiser officials said their plan is to ensure members and patients receive safe, high-quality health care.
“Our focus remains on reaching agreements that recognize the vital contributions of our employees while ensuring excellent, affordable care,” according to Kaiser. “We have proposed 21.5% wage increases — our strongest national bargaining offer ever — and we are prepared to close agreements at local tables now. Employees deserve their raises and patients deserve our full attention, not prolonged disputes.”
Kaiser has also posted strike guidance online for health plan members.
“If a strike does happen, our hospitals and medical offices will stay open,” says the guidance on Kaiser’s websites. “Some pharmacies would close. We have robust plans in place to ensure continued care.
“We may need to reschedule some nonurgent appointments and elective surgeries” company officials said. “If you have an appointment scheduled on a possible strike date, please don’t cancel or reschedule. We’ll contact you if we have to reschedule your appointment.”
According to a statement Sunday, the company’s latest contract offer is “one of the strongest nursing contract offers in California this year” after step increases and local adjustments are factored in.
“Despite the union’s claims, this strike is about wages,” Kaiser officials said. “This open-ended strike by UNAC/UHCP is unnecessary when such a generous offer is on the table. The strike is designed to disrupt the lives of our patients — the very people we are all here to serve.”
The company has proposed 21.5% wage increases, according to the statement.