Another strike looms at Kaiser’s California hospitals as workers push for better pay

Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers are poised to initiate a three-day strike on Wednesday, impacting patients throughout California. The contract between the renowned healthcare organization and a coalition consisting of eight unions representing 75,000 workers nationwide expired on Saturday. These workers encompass a wide range of professions, including pharmacists, phlebotomists, licensed vocational nurses, and support staff. While the strike would also affect facilities in Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C., over 90% of the coalition's workers are based in California.

The union coalition issued a statement over the weekend, stating that the parties involved "remain far apart" on critical issues such as compensation and staffing. Despite this, negotiations are expected to continue until midday today. "So far, there is no light at the end of the tunnel," lamented union leaders in a statement on Saturday.

In contrast, Kaiser executives adopted a more restrained stance on Monday regarding the impasse. They stated that a strike is neither inevitable nor justified. The prevailing concerns revolve around compensation and staff adequacy, as healthcare workers depart the profession en masse, citing burnout and stress induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coalition demands a 24.5% raise over four years and a minimum wage of $25 per hour for all workers nationwide. Kaiser, on the other hand, has offered raises ranging from 12.5% to 16% over four years dependent on the respective state, along with a minimum wage of $21 for most of its employees, and $23 for those in California.

Preparations for the upcoming walkout include the hiring of thousands of temporary workers to fill vacant positions. The strike is scheduled to last until 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Kaiser reassured the public that, should a strike occur, their hospitals and emergency departments will remain operational. The facilities will continue to be staffed by physicians, competent managers, and experienced personnel. In some cases, additional contingent workers will be brought in, as stated in an official Kaiser statement on Monday.

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Kaiser possesses a significant presence in California, with a commanding share of the private insurance market and over 9.4 million members. It operates thirty-six hospitals and more than 500 medical offices within the state.

Last year, Kaiser's mental health workers in Northern California engaged in a ten-week strike, fueled by excessive caseloads and prolonged patient waiting times. Concurrently, a state investigation commenced, focusing on whether the health insurer was ensuring timely and adequate access to appointments for its members. This investigation remains ongoing, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Managed Health Care who spoke to CalMatters.

Sonya Allen-Smith, a radiology technologist from Oakland, has been employed by Kaiser for 15 years. Allen-Smith attributes the bargaining stalemate to staffing deficiencies. Her department functions at 50% capacity, with only five out of ten positions filled. The extended wait times for X-rays often prompt patients to abandon their visits and return home, she revealed.

"As frontline workers, we witness patient care crises on a daily basis. We know that resolving this crisis necessitates Kaiser executives committing to fair labor practices and taking action by investing in the workforce," declared Allen-Smith.

Additionally, Allen-Smith is a member of the coalition's common interests committee, which assists with negotiation processes. Renée Saldana, a spokesperson for the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, the largest union within the coalition, has accused Kaiser of unfair labor practices. These allegations stem from Kaiser's failure to share the requisite bargaining information and refusal to negotiate over items covered in the current contract.

Despite Kaiser's assertion that it exhibits one of the industry's lowest attrition rates and plans to hire 10,000 new employees by the end of the month, Saldana noted that the coalition still has unresolved questions about whether new hires are being recruited to fill existing vacancies or staff new facilities, as Kaiser embarks on rapid expansion across the country.

"If even I struggle to navigate this process, how can the administration expect parents to do so and ensure widespread vaccine acceptance?" she questioned.

She also harbors concerns that this "disastrous" vaccine rollout will culminate in reduced vaccine resources for children in the future.

"They will leverage this data to claim that parents are uninterested in vaccinating their children, when in reality, the shortcomings are too significant to facilitate widespread vaccination."

"Access is a problem," stated Hackell, a pediatrician.

Approximately half of the children in the United States receive free vaccinations through the CDC's Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which many doctors participate in. However, according to Hackell, the ordering of these vaccines varies on a state-by-state basis.

Deb Wityk, a resident of the Spurgeon Manor nursing home in Dallas Center, Iowa, expressed her intention to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccination at the earliest opportunity. "COVID-19 is particularly devastating in a nursing home," she remarked. 

As COVID-19 infections continue to rise, nursing homes are still awaiting the arrival of vaccines. Hackell noted, "Some states allowed ordering even before the vaccine was released, whereas others only recently opened up their ordering supply."

While some pediatricians have expressed their plans to administer the vaccine, they have not yet received any doses, and the timeline for their arrival remains uncertain.

According to Hackell, some of his colleagues across the country have received their allotment of free vaccines, while others are still waiting. This creates an equity problem as children dependent on the VFC program, who are covered by Medicaid or uninsured, often encounter difficulties in accessing the vaccine.

During a briefing sponsored by the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases on Friday, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen explained that adult doses were initially prioritized over pediatric vaccines.

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Dr. Mandy Cohen stated, "Our manufacturers and distributors initially focused on delivering the adult vaccines first. As a result, they shipped the pediatric vaccine a few days after the initial distribution."

One vaccine manufacturer confirmed on Monday that they are fulfilling orders as soon as they are received. However, it is important to note that while some orders are sent directly to individual purchasers, others are funneled through large distributors, who must process and dispatch them, which takes additional time.

Kit Longley, a spokesperson for Pfizer, affirmed, "All orders are being fulfilled promptly, and 100% of orders are shipped within days after they are placed."

Longley also disclosed that the drug manufacturer has already shipped over 10 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 1 million pediatric doses.

Kaiser strike nears as bill awaits Newsom's approval. 

Governor Gavin Newsom is currently reviewing a proposal to establish a minimum wage of $25 for healthcare workers in California. While Newsom has until October 14th to make a decision on the minimum wage, signing the bill will not impact the coalition's bargaining demands, as it represents members from five other states, according to Saldana's statement.

Saldana added, "California is high-cost, but so are Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. The cost of living is expensive everywhere."

Kaiser asserts that it provides the highest salaries compared to its competitors, but workers in California argue that inflation has affected everyone.

"It has become increasingly challenging to support oneself without seeking additional employment," said Rolando Medina, a behavioral health worker at Kaiser Simi Valley. "Wages have not kept pace with inflation."

Medina, who has been with Kaiser for 13 years, currently earns approximately $35 per hour. However, the cost of a single tank of gas, which now amounts to $90, significantly impacts his family's budget.

"I can recall a time when being a Kaiser Permanente employee was something people looked forward to, but it feels like things have changed," Medina remarked.

Meanwhile, in Oakland, Allen-Smith expressed her colleagues' frustration and their commitment to the upcoming strike.