Kaiser Strike Looms For 5k South Bay Workers; Talks Continue

SANTA CLARA, CA — The date has been set next month for Kaiser Permanente workers in California to strike over claims of unfair labor practices unless an agreement can be met between the health care network's primary union and the company based in Oakland. The two parties are still negotiating with meetings set next week in Los Angeles.

The Service Employees International Union — aka United Healthcare Workers West — voted on July 29 and Aug. 11 to authorize strike that would represent the largest in the United States in over two decades. More than 37,000 cast ballots in support of a strike, equating to 98 percent of the workforce in the union.

If no deal is reached before the Oct. 14 deadline, the strike would affect 24,000 Kaiser Permanente workers, with about about a fifth of those employees situated in Santa Clara County. There are 2,400 in Santa Clara; 2,200 in San Jose; 190 in Milpitas; 108 in Gilroy; and 97 in Mountain View.

Due north in San Mateo County, 1,000 Redwood City health care staffers would be impacted.

"We believe the only way to ensure our patients get the best care is to take this step," said Eric Jines, a radiologic technologist at Kaiser Permanente. "Our goal is to get Kaiser to stop committing unfair labor practices and get back on track as the best place to work and get care. There is no reason for Kaiser to let a strike happen when it has the resources to invest in patients, communities and workers."

The workers' national contract expired Sept. 30, 2018, and in December 2018 the National Labor Relations Board charged Kaiser Permanente with failing to bargain in good faith. Since then, Kaiser has continued to commit unfair labor practices, the union contends.

Picket lines will be set up at Kaiser Permanente hospitals, medical office buildings and other facilities in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Jobs affected by the strike include optometrists, clinical laboratory scientists, respiratory and x-ray technicians, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, surgical technicians, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomists, medical assistants and housekeepers, among hundreds of other positions.

The Oakland-based company told Patch it had presented a contract proposal that would provide annual pay increases that would keep the employees compensated higher than market averages and maintain benefits.

It characterized the threat as a power play using "disruptive" tactics.

See also

• 24K Bay Area Kaiser Workers To Strike In October