Kaiser Permanente management and hospital workers reached a tentative labor agreement Saturday avoiding a massive strike.
More than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente employees threatened to walkout on Monday over a labor dispute, marking what would have been one of the largest strikes in United States healthcare history.
The tentative agreement would result in a 4-year contract covering nearly 50,000 Kaiser Permanente health care employees in 22 local unions. It includes wage increases, health benefits, retirement benefits, bonus opportunities, new safe staffing and workload language and opportunities for career growth.
"This landmark agreement underscores our unwavering commitment to our employees by maintaining industry-leading wages and benefits," said Christian Meisner, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Kaiser Permanente. "These were challenging negotiations, but this tentative agreement demonstrates the strength of our Labor Management Partnership and the unique success it can achieve when we work together."
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The healthcare company was quick to reassure patients that they will continue to receive safe, high-quality care that is affordable.
Northern California mental health workers joined the move to strike in late October due to Kaiser’s refusal to improve staffing and long wait times for patients seeking mental health treatment. Nearly 2,000 clinicians, including psychologists, therapists and social workers in the Bay Area, Central Valley and Sacramento voted in favor of the now-canceled strike.
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