31,000 Kaiser caregivers on strike in California

Oakland, California — Some 31,000 nurses and other health care workers represented by United Nurses Association (UNAC) of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals (UHCP) started in January what they call “the largest health care strike in the nation.” (unacuhcp.org, Jan. 25) The unions cited Unfair Labor Practice violations after eight months of bargaining. Strike issues include safe staffing, pay and retirement security.

UNAC / UHCP members are represented at Kaiser Permanente, Prime, Adventist Health and other hospitals and medical facilities. Most of these union members work in California, where, according to the union website, one of every four residents get their care at Kaiser.

UNAC and UHCP cover registered nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurse anesthesiologists and child-life specialists among 15 specialties. Some of these vocations have unionized for the first time. Picket lines went up at three northern California Kaiser hospitals in January, though the strike is in effect at all Kaiser locations. In February, pharmacy and lab workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) joined the strike. 

‘Burnout caused this turnout!’

At noon on Feb, 11, Oakland Kaiser medical professionals gathered in the pouring rain to chant “1-2-3-4, Kaiser what are you waiting for? 5-6-7-8, Kaiser, let’s negotiate!” Music and chants filled the air. Passing cars created a crescendo of supporting honks. Caregivers chanted, “Burnout caused this turnout!”

Physical therapist Meleen, from Walnut Creek, told Workers World that hospitalized patients often require five days of physical therapy (PT) to return home safely. However, patients often end up with only one day of PT, because Kaiser lacks the staff to provide it.

Meleen also explained that the wage increases for physical therapists haven’t kept up with inflation. She said the raises have been 2%-3%, whereas inflation runs much higher.

Nurse anesthesiologists (CRNA’s) from Oakland said that the new Kaiser contract contains take-aways from retirement and medical benefits. Formerly, nurse anesthesiologists were not unionized. They point out that anyone who spends their life giving good medical care deserves good medical care when they retire.

Kaiser management says the strike is “designed to disrupt patient’s lives.” (unacuhcp.org) Jessica, an oncology registered nurse from Fontana, told WW: “I don’t disrupt patient care. I am patient care.” Recently, when requested at the end of a 12-hour shift, Jessica washed and braided a patient’s hair. The patient died 30 minutes later. She said another nurse told her, “Before some people die, all they want is to be clean. This is sacred work.”

Kaiser has nearly $70 billion in reserves, which its management wants to use for expansion projects in other states. Kaiser has invested its employer-controlled pension funds in questionable areas that include Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers and predatory lending. In the meantime, California patients have long wait times for appointments, treatments and recovery. 

A retired Kaiser nurse, Sherell adds: “As a patient, I received exceptional care from frontline medical staff. However, as a nurse I found management more concerned with metrics — how many patients a caregiver saw or phoned per hour — than with the care we provided for those patients.”