75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers are formally on strike
The largest well being employee strike went into impact on Wednesday morning, as an settlement between 75,000 healthcare workers and Kaiser Permanente hospitals has but to be reached.
The strike started on 4 October at 6am PT because the workers — nurses, radiology technicians, pharmacists, sonographers and others — are placing “to protest unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels,” in keeping with the most recent launch from SEIU-UHW, a union that’s half of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions.
The strike will happen throughout the nation in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington DC and is anticipated to final three days.
The strike comes after failed negotiations following the workers’ contract expiring on 30 September.
Early on Wednesday, Kaiser Permanente additionally issued a press release on the progress, saying the 2 events are “still at the bargaining table, having worked through the night in an effort to reach an agreement. There has been a lot of progress, with agreements reached on several specific proposals late Tuesday.”
But the coalition was singing to a unique tune. “No agreement can be made until Kaiser executives stop bargaining in bad faith and committing unfair labor practices,” stated, Caroline Lucas, govt director of the coalition.
When is the Kaiser strike and when does it finish?
The healthcare workers started placing at 6am PT on Wednesday, 4 October.
Both sides have predicted the strike may span three days.
Workers have joined the picket strains in states throughout the nation: California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington DC.
Kelly Rissman4 October 2023 16:15
Who is happening strike at Kaiser Permanente?
Healthcare workers employed at Kaiser Permanente amenities represented by unions. According to the coaltion, some of the roles affected by the strike embrace:
- licensed vocational nurses
- emergency division technicians
- radiology technicians
- ultrasound sonographers
- teleservice representatives
- respiratory therapists
- x-ray technicians
- optometrists
- licensed nursing assistants
- behavioral well being workers
- surgical technicians
- pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
- dwelling well being aides
- phlebotomists
- medical assistants
- dental assistants
Kelly Rissman4 October 2023 15:59
What is the Kaiser strike about?
Healthcare workers are on strike “to protest unfair labor practices and unsafe staffing levels at hundreds of Kaiser hospitals and facilities across the United States,” the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions stated in a press release on Tuesday evening.
The coaltion stated it’s attempting to “solve the Kaiser short-staffing crisis,” which has been affecting affected person remedy for the reason that mass exodus from the sector after the Covid-19 pandemic overwhelmed hospital amenities.
The coalition is searching for across-the-board wage will increase, protections in opposition to outsourcing, the proper to unionize a system that Kaiser acquires, and higher advantages.
Kelly Rissman4 October 2023 15:57
What is the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions saying?
Statement from Caroline Lucas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions:
Given the urgency of Kaiser’s staffing disaster, frontline healthcare workers are prepared to sit down down with Kaiser executives every time they’re able to discount in good religion — together with up till the scheduled strike begin time. However, no settlement might be made till Kaiser executives cease bargaining in unhealthy religion and committing unfair labor practices.
Tens of hundreds of frontline Kaiser healthcare workers throughout the nation are prepared for an unfair labor apply strike at 6 a.m. tomorrow. Patients and workers want dramatic motion now to unravel the Kaiser quick staffing disaster and to make sure our sufferers’ security.
With hours left earlier than our strike, each administration and union negotiators are on stand-by ready for Kaiser executives to resolve their inner debate about whether or not to do what it takes to succeed in an settlement or power the most important healthcare employee strike in US historical past.
Kelly Rissman4 October 2023 15:55
75,000 workers are protesting within the largest healthcare strike US historical past
Thousands of Kaiser Permanente sonographers, radiology technicians, nurses, emergency division workers, and others have taken to the picket strains in protest of the staffing shortages.
Their contract ended with the hospital system on 30 September. Now, negotiations to succeed in a brand new contract are ongoing.
Kelly Rissman4 October 2023 15:52
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/strike-kaiser-permanente-update-health-care-b2423942.html