Before the strike, Kaiser Permanente said both parties had been making progress in bargaining sessions, reaching an accord on specific proposals involving dispute resolutions, staffing vacancy tracking and the use of registry staff.
According to a Wednesday statement from the system, its latest contract offers included minimum wages of $25 per hour in California and $23 per hour in other states, a 40% increase in continuing education funding, and minimum payouts as part of Kaiser Permanente’s Performance Sharing Plan.
The coalition said in a Friday statement that bargaining team members and the health system have been unable to see eye-to-eye on pay increases, measures to address staffing shortages and the practice of outsourcing jobs to vendors and third-party subcontractors.
Union members' demands include a universal $25 hourly minimum wage and wage increases of 26.5% over four years.
If the points of contention are not resolved in upcoming bargaining sessions, the coalition has said its members are prepared to issue another notice to walk off the job for a longer period of time.
Nationally, several union groups have gone on strike or announced their intent to do so over workforce shortages and other issues.
On Monday, more than 1,500 registered nurses and medical support staff at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California, went on strike.
The workers, represented by the United Nurses Associations of California, the Union of Health Care Professionals and SEIU-UHW, plan to stay on the picket lines through Friday to protest the health center’s alleged issues with understaffing, worker retention and patient safety.
St. Francis is owned by Ontario, California-headquartered Prime Healthcare. About 900 SEIU-UHW members are also striking through Friday at three other Prime-owned California hospitals, according to the union: Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center and Encino Hospital Medical Center.
Prime Healthcare said in a statement Monday that it will continue to bargain in good faith with union members and has two sessions scheduled with the United Nurses Association of California. Over the course of negotiations, the health system has suggested several proposals to increase wages and offer comprehensive benefit programs, according to a spokesperson. Prime Healthcare said to combat national issues of understaffing, it has invested in improved recruitment and retention strategies, expedited hiring timelines and better facility infrastructure.
