Healthcare Workers In California, Oregon Vote To Strike Against Kaiser Permanente

Fremont CA

12 October, 2021

5:04 PM

Description

From CBS San Francisco: OAKLAND (CBS SF/AP) — Across California and Oregon, more than 24,000 nurses and other healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente overwhelmingly authorized a strike this weekend over pay and working conditions made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. Oakland-based Kaiser, one of the nation's largest health care providers, has proposed a two-tiered wage and benefits system that would give newer employees lower pay and fewer health protections. The unions want Kaiser to abandon that plan. They also want 4% raises for each the next three years and a commitment to hire more nurses to relieve staffing shortages. Kaiser has offered 1% a year, with additional lump sums, and says it must reduce labor costs to remain competitive. The regional strike vote comes amid national contract negotiations between Kaiser and the Alliance of Health Care Unions, which represents more than 20 unions covering more than 50,000 Kaiser workers nationwide. More strike authorizations could come in Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia, Washington state and the District of Columbia, the unions said. Read more at CBS CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.