March for the future of healthcare and strike preparation

Our powerful vote to authorize our bargaining committee to send a 10-day notice to strike if necessary kicked off a wave of momentum across our union and joined our cause with unionized workers across the country. In the coming weeks, we expect more than 40,000 Kaiser Permanente (KP) health care workers nationwide will be ready to do whatever it takes for our patients and our workers.

This employer needs to understand that we are not just labor costs to be managed by bean counters. Health care is about people: Our patients and those who support that role and care for them. To understand the human cost of its proposals, KP needs to see us. On Oct. 30, we’ll come together with all Alliance members, community allies, and our friends and family in a visible show of force in Pasadena for the March for the Future of Health Care. Register here: https://usw7600.ink/March

The employer wants to divide us. Our power is in staying united. KP is preparing for a strike, as are we. Today our leadership met to plan for the following to continue preparation for a strike. 

  • Assistance Committee

  • Community Support and Membership Activities 

  • Picket Captains

Look for more information coming soon about how you can step up to show KP we are serious about going on strike if movement isn’t made at the table. In the coming days and weeks, they will ask us about our plans. The best answer is, “Yes, I’m ready to strike.”

At the Table

A strike is a last resort. The best outcome would be to secure the strongest possible agreement without having to strike. Our vote was a collective action with real results:

  • We secured additional bargaining dates continuing into next week

  • We are finally beginning to make slight progress on our contract

In recent days, we’ve won tentative agreements at the table that invest in us, including Ben Hudnall funds that will allow us to continue our education and advance our growth. However, Kaiser Permanente continues to drag its feet on meaningful staffing improvements while insisting on its dangerous two-tier wage scheme in the midst of a national health care worker shortage and refuses to engage in meaningful discussion over Inland Empire Wage Justice. In order to continue to provide high-quality patient care and prevent erosion of standards, KP must keep industry-leading jobs.