Kaiser Permanente and labor unions have reached a tentative deal following a historic strike by workers at the nation’s largest health care nonprofit organization. The three-day walkout, organized by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, was the largest work stoppage of health care workers in U.S. history. In a Facebook statement, the coalition expressed their excitement over the tentative agreement, crediting Acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su for her support. Kaiser Permanente, which serves nearly 13 million people nationwide, shared a similar statement on Facebook.
The four-year deal reached between Kaiser and the unions will provide coalition members with new minimum wages that will increase over three years, ultimately reaching $25 an hour in California and $23 an hour in other states. The agreement also guarantees across-the-board wage increases of 21% over four years, enhancements to the employees’ Performance Sharing Plan, and additional investments in job training and development.
The strike, involving over 75,000 union members, was prompted by the company’s failure to reach an agreement on staffing levels. The union had demanded better pay, benefits, and a long-term solution to the staffing shortage. Kaiser believes that the new agreement will help address these concerns.
During the strike, various healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, vocational nurses, housekeepers, and medical assistants, walked out of hospitals and medical facilities across several states. Sarah Levesque, a union representative, highlighted the challenges faced by workers due to staffing issues, stating that it often takes up to three months for patients to get appointments with doctors. Many other workers shared similar sentiments, with patients experiencing long wait times and frustrated customers.
The news article was written by Minyvonne Burke, a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Deon J. Hampton and Elizabeth Chuck also contributed to the article.
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