More than 75,000 workers employed with the Kaiser Permanente hospital systems went on strike Wednesday, citing wage and staffing issues in what looks to be the largest health care strike in U.S. history.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions represents over 85,000 health care workers in Kaiser Permanente facilities in seven states and the District of Columbia. Kaiser last negotiated a contract with the coalition in 2019, a year before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. On Sept. 30 this year, the contract expired. On Sept. 22, the coalition submitted a 10-day notice to Kaiser Permanente executives, warning that they would begin striking on Oct. 4 if a better contract is not negotiated. As negotiations were not successful, union employees began the strike early morning Wednesday.
