Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers kicked off their three-day strike Wednesday, marking what their union is calling the largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history.
The strike began in Southern California at 6 a.m.
Joanna Isaiah, who works in recovery at Kaiser, is also a strike captain. She told KNX News’ Jon Baird she didn’t think the strike would happen.
“I was hopeful that the Kaiser executives would listen to the front-line employees and fix the staffing crisis that we're having,” she said. “We're here to try to do our jobs, but we need the staff that we need and we need the Kaiser executive to listen to us.”
One employee striking said she was disappointed an agreement was not reached.
“I’ve been here 36 years so I’m very disappointed,” she said.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions accused the Kaiser of offering wages that don’t keep pace with inflation, failing to maintain adequate staffing levels, and cutting performance bonuses, according to City News Service.
In a statement by Terry Kankari, Senior Media Relations Specialist for Kaiser, the hospital said, “Both Kaiser Permanente management and coalition union representatives are still at the bargaining table, having worked through the night in an effort to reach an agreement.”
The hospital added that due to the strike, some non-urgent appointments and procedures may be rescheduled.
In addition to pickets in California, workers in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. are also striking.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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