Kaiser Permanente Workers Strike In Oregon Set To Begin Nov. 15

LAKE OSWEGO, OR— A strike is coming to Kaiser Permanente. The union representing 3,400 workers in Oregon and southwest Washington notified Kaiser that the strike will be at 6 a.m. on November 15.

The union – the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Care Professionals – says that the main issue is Kaiser's proposal to create a two-tier pay system that will compensate new employees at a lower rate.

Kaiser says that there is an urgent need to cut wages so that they lower the cost of health care.

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OFNHP represents physicians' assistants, lap professionals, and registered nurses. they voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

The Oregon Nurses Association released a statement of support for the Kaiser workers, saying that they are "deeply disappointed" in Kaiser's actions.

"Kaiser administration’s behavior is outrageous," The president of the ONA Board of Directors, Lynda Pond, said. "Although a strike is always a last resort, ONA believes our OFNHP colleagues have no other option but to take this step. Their fight is our fight too."

While the strike is set, negotiations continue.