{"id":160878,"date":"2026-02-02T22:09:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/160878\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T22:09:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:09:07","slug":"orange-county-healthcare-workers-strike-for-second-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/160878\/","title":{"rendered":"Orange County Healthcare Workers Strike For Second Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over 30,000 healthcare workers who went on strike last week at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics across California and Hawaii are continuing their push for higher pay and better staffing as the picket lines extend into another week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[Read: Orange County Healthcare Workers Again Strike For Higher Pay, More Staffing<\/a>]<\/p>\n

The healthcare workers, consisting of the United Nurses Associations of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC\/UHCP), went back on strike at 9 a.m. today, including at Anaheim Medical Center in Orange County.<\/p>\n

The strike is expected to continue \u201cuntil a fair contract is reached,\u201d according to a news release from union leaders.<\/p>\n

Members on strike include registered nurses, pharmacists, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists and other specialty health care professionals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Striking healthcare workers are fighting for better wages and increased staffing. Union leaders also say the strike was called in response to Kaiser\u2019s \u201cuse of delaying tactics at the national bargaining table.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only wage proposal we have ever received that covers all the nurses in our Southern California contract is the National proposal where Kaiser has offered 21.5%. Kaiser publicized that offer to the press,\u201d Vanessa Caballero, representation director for UNAC\/UHCP, wrote in a Sunday afternoon statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe provided Kaiser a comprehensive package proposal that includes wage grid adjustments to reflect wages they are already paying other nurses at Kaiser in California, and it also includes addressing staffing concerns and following our contractual nurse-to-patient ratios,\u201d she continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Caballero says Kaiser has issued misleading public statements.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of countering, Kaiser management tells the public they offered 30% and have strong staffing. So, where\u2019s the 30% and where\u2019s their commitment to proper staffing? We have no such proposal from Kaiser.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kaiser representatives say they\u2019re committed to their nurses, employees and patients as the strikes continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe respect our nurses and employees and appreciate all they do every day to care for our members and patients,\u201d Camille Applin-Jones, senior vice president for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said in a Friday statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Applin-Jones said Kaiser employees are paid well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey deserve a fair contract that recognizes their value. Today, Kaiser Permanente nurses are among the best-paid caregivers in the country, and in every market, we offer pay and benefits that meet or exceed those of other health care organizations,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kaiser claims UNAC\/UHCP employees already earn between 16% and 25% more than similar roles at other healthcare organizations, in addition to benefits.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur contract proposal is the strongest compensation package in Kaiser Permanente\u2019s national bargaining history and keeps employees among the best-paid caregivers in the country,\u201d Applin-Jones said. \u201cThe total pay increase we are offering, including step increases, amounts to roughly 30% over the length of the contract, not including proposed benefits enhancements.\u201d<\/p>\n

It comes after healthcare professionals represented by the same unions went on strike in October for about a week.<\/p>\n

[Read: Kaiser Health Care Employees Strike for Better Pay, Staffing<\/a>]<\/p>\n

More Healthcare Workers Expected to Strike<\/p>\n

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) representing Kaiser Permanente pharmacy employees are also slated to join picket lines starting next Monday at 7 a.m.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re expected to join picket lines at select locations in Los Angeles and Bakersfield.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are fed up with being overworked, disrespected, undervalued, and with Kaiser\u2019s illegal attempts to intimidate us out of getting a fair contract,\u201d Angelica Muro, a pharmacy technician at Kaiser Permanente in West Los Angeles, said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen workers are punished for speaking up about safety and workload, patients pay the price through longer waits and delayed prescriptions. Kaiser\u2019s actions don\u2019t just violate labor law, they violate the trust our patients place in us every day,\u201d Muro said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kaiser said both strikes occurring simultaneously will pose some challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u202frecognize the added\u202fchallenges posed by\u202fthe\u202fUFCW\u202fUnions\u2019\u202fnotice of an open-ended strike beginning Feb. 9, while we are managing the open-ended strike by UNAC\/UHCP,\u201d reads a statement sent to Voice of OC from Carol Soudah, spokesperson for Kaiser Permanente Southern California.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite these circumstances, our commitment to our patients has not wavered. Patient safety\u202fand\u202faccess to care\u202fand\u202fservices\u202fremain\u202four highest priorities.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hospitals to Stay Open<\/p>\n

Hospitals are expected to stay open during the strikes, and patients are still expected to receive care.<\/p>\n

Kaiser representatives say hospitals and most medical centers will remain open while some pharmacies and labs will close temporarily.<\/p>\n

Patients will have access to same-day care through Get Care Now on kp.org and the Kaiser Permanente mobile app, with some non-urgent appointments shifted to virtual care or rescheduled to prioritize urgent needs, according to Kaiser representatives.<\/p>\n

Angelina Hicks is the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service Editor. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.<\/p>\n

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