31,000 Kaiser Nurses & Healthcare Workers Begin Strike in Massive Walkout

Image Source: Hawaiʻi Public Radio and JAMM AQUINO/JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

More than 31,000 nurses and healthcare professionals with the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) are now on strike at Kaiser Permanente, demanding safe staffing, fair pay, and respect for caregivers.

The historic five-day strike, which began at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, is taking place at hospitals and clinics in California and Hawaii. It is the largest strike in UNAC/UHCP’s 50-year history.

UNAC/UHCP, a member of the Alliance of Health Care Unions (AHCU), represents frontline healthcare workers including registered nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives, pharmacists, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals. Up to 46,000 Kaiser employees across California, Hawaii, and Oregon could join strike lines, as additional AHCU member unions have also issued strike notices.

Background: Breakdown in Partnership

The strike follows months of tense negotiations and the expiration of most UNAC/UHCP contracts on September 30, as well as the union’s recent decision to pause participation in Kaiser Permanente’s Labor Management Partnership (LMP).

The Labor Management Partnership, long considered a model for healthcare labor relations, has come under strain as union leaders call for a renewed focus on shared decision-making and meaningful input from frontline caregivers.

Core Issues Driving the Strike

Union members say the strike centers on three major priorities:

Safe Staffing

Frontline professionals are calling for enforceable staffing ratios based on patient acuity rather than corporate cost targets. UNAC/UHCP leaders argue that unsafe workloads have become a serious threat to both staff and patient safety.

Fair Pay and Economic Security

Despite record revenues and $66 billion in reserves, Kaiser’s wage proposals reportedly lag behind inflation and the rising cost of living. Caregivers say stagnant pay and high housing costs are driving turnover and making it harder to recruit and retain staff.

Respect and Partnership

UNAC/UHCP emphasizes the need for frontline caregivers to have a voice in patient care decisions. Members also cite concerns over retirement cuts and inadequate protections for newer professionals.

“This contract fight isn’t just about wages—it’s about ensuring the staffing, resources, and respect needed to provide the best possible care for every patient who walks through those doors,” said Moises Alarcón, RN, UNAC/UHCP Executive Treasurer and longtime emergency department nurse.

Kaiser’s Response

Kaiser Permanente has stated that it has proposed a contract that includes a 21.5% pay increase over four years, improved benefits, and investments in employee education and career advancement. The organization says it will activate contingency plans, including temporary staffing and rescheduling non-urgent appointments, to minimize disruption during the strike.

Union representatives maintain that Kaiser’s offer fails to address core staffing and workload issues, warning that the system’s focus on national expansion—including projects in Pennsylvania, Nevada, and North Carolina—could strain existing resources and impact patient care.

Strike Sites and Activity

Thousands of healthcare professionals began walking picket lines early Tuesday morning at major Kaiser facilities across California and Hawaii.

Key strike locations include:

• Kaiser South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, CA

• Kaiser Woodland Hills Medical Center, Woodland Hills, CA

• Kaiser Riverside Medical Center, Riverside, CA

• Kaiser Downey Medical Center, Downey, CA

• Kaiser San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA

Strikers will maintain picket lines daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at more than 500 Kaiser facilities statewide. In Hawaii, picket sites include Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center on Oahu and the Maui Lani Medical Office on Maui.

A full list of strike locations and schedules is available at unacuhcp.org/presscenter.

National Context and What’s at Stake

UNAC/UHCP represents the largest group of unionized Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in California, where one in four residents receives care through Kaiser. The union also represents hundreds of members in Hawaii, where Kaiser serves more than 270,000 health plan members.

The outcome of this strike could have far-reaching implications for healthcare labor relations nationwide, setting precedents on staffing standards, compensation, and the balance of power between management and frontline professionals.

Looking Ahead

For decades, union healthcare professionals have been the backbone of Kaiser Permanente, partnering to improve care quality and patient outcomes. As the strike continues, UNAC/UHCP leaders say this fight is not only about contracts—it is about protecting the future of patient care and ensuring that frontline professionals have the staffing, resources, and respect they need to deliver it.

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