SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Kaiser Permanente has resumed normal operations across its facilities following a five-day strike that concluded at 7 a.m. on Sunday. Approximately 30,000 employees represented by the Alliance of Health Care Unions are now back at work, the health care provider announced in a statement.
The strike, which affected Kaiser facilities across several states, centered primarily around wage negotiations. Despite public attention on staffing and workplace concerns, Kaiser officials said the main sticking point in the dispute was economic — specifically, wages.
Kaiser Permanente emphasized its gratitude to the frontline teams and temporary staff who helped maintain patient care throughout the strike. The provider said it deployed physicians, managers, and nearly 6,000 contracted nurses and clinicians to minimize service disruptions during the labor action.
“Our facilities were staffed by physicians, experienced managers, and trained staff, along with nearly 6,000 contracted nurses, clinicians, and others who worked with us during the strike,” Kaiser said in a media statement. “Together these teams enabled Kaiser Permanente to minimize disruption and ensure our patients experienced the highest levels of care quality.”
Contract negotiations between Kaiser and the union are set to resume Oct. 22–23, with a focus on wage proposals. Kaiser has put forward a four-year contract offering a 21.5% increase in base wages, along with enhancements to employee medical and retiree benefits.
Kaiser stressed the importance of balancing employee compensation with the rising cost of health care.
“At a time when the cost of health care continues to go up steeply, and millions of Americans are having to make the difficult choice to go without coverage, it’s critical that we keep quality, accessible health care coverage affordable – while attracting and retaining top talent,” the statement read.
No additional strikes have been announced as negotiations continue. FOX 5/KUSI will continue to follow updates as the two sides return to the bargaining table.
