Overview
- The work stoppage entered its third week on Feb. 9, with roughly 34,000 employees now off the job across California and Hawaii.
- More than 3,000 UFCW-represented pharmacy and clinical lab workers in Southern California began striking Monday, joining about 31,000 UNAC/UHCP nurses and clinicians who have been out since Jan. 26.
- Kaiser says hospitals, emergency departments and most medical offices remain open, while some pharmacies and labs are closed and certain nonurgent appointments are being rescheduled or shifted to virtual care.
- Unions filed unfair labor practice charges alleging Kaiser walked away from national bargaining in December and are pressing for enforceable staffing standards along with higher pay.
- Kaiser calls the strike unnecessary, cites employees returning to work, emphasizes substantial wage proposals, and says it is pursuing local bargaining where it reports some progress.