Thursday, October 5, 2023 2:30PM, with a coalition of unions alleging the health care system is engaging in unfair labor practices.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, which represents more than 85,000 workers, said Kaiser is experiencing a short-staffing crisis and that unsafe levels of staffing can result in long wait times, patient neglect and missed diagnoses. In a statement to ABC News Wednesday morning, Kaiser said bargaining was ongoing and some agreements had been reached.
By the evening, Kaiser announced that talks hadn't ended with a deal. The company said, though, in a statement that the two sides had reached some "tentative agreements" addressing union members' concerns, including wage increases across the board, an update to the performance-sharing plan, $25 minimum wage in California and $23 outside of the state, enhancing health and retirement benefits, and renewing the company's tuition assistance and training programs.
"Frontline healthcare workers are awaiting a meaningful response from Kaiser executives regarding some of our key priorities including safe staffing, outsourcing protections for incumbent healthcare workers, and fair wages to reduce turnover. Healthcare workers within the coalition remain ready to meet at any time. Currently, the strike continues, and there are no sessions scheduled at this hour," her statement read.