Over 30,000 Healthcare Workers Strike In California

LOS ANGELES, Jan 27 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of healthcare workers in California walked off the job early Monday, launching an open-ended strike at the United States’ largest not-for-profit integrated healthcare system, Kaiser Permanente, reported Xinhua.

About 31,000 employees, represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), joined the union walkout.

The group includes registered nurses, nurse anaesthetists, pharmacists, midwives, physician assistants, therapists, dietitians and other specialised healthcare professionals.

Picket lines began early in the morning at dozens of Kaiser facilities across California, such as the northern area's major Medical Centres in Roseville, Santa Clara, and Oakland, where Kaiser Permanente is headquartered.

Additional actions are also planned across Northern and Southern California and at one hospital in Hawaii.

"It was inevitable," Sarah H, a nurse on the West Coast, said. "We're always understaffed, and the extra work and longer hours lead to burnout."

The strike follows months of stalled contract negotiations over differences, and is complicated by mutual accusations.

Previously, a five-day walkout in October involved more than 40,000 Kaiser workers across several western US states.

Union contracts expired on Sept. 30, and talks have continued for more than seven months. UNAC/UHCP leaders said the latest decision to strike was driven by unresolved concerns over wages, chronic understaffing, workplace safety and burnout.

The union is seeking wage increases totalling 25 per cent over four years, while Kaiser Permanente has countered with a proposed 21.5 per cent increase, which it has described as its strongest national offer to date.

Kaiser said it has contingency plans in place to maintain patient services during the strike, including using physicians, managers, reassigned staff and temporary clinicians.

Hospitals and nearly all medical offices are expected to remain open. Emergency departments will continue operating.

The union estimated that roughly one in four Californians receives healthcare from Kaiser Permanente.

Kaiser Permanente is a major healthcare organisation in the United States (US), known for being an integrated managed care consortium. 

--BERNAMA-XINHUA