Strike at Kaiser Permanente health care facilities ends; further negotiations planned

The entrance to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Diego File photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego A five-day strike in California and Hawaii by thousands of unionized Kaiser Permanente registered nurses and other robustness professionals ended Sunday with Kaiser and union bureaucrats agreeing to resume bargaining this week Kaiser explained its facilities were resuming normal operations We are deeply grateful to our front-line care teams who leaned in to ensure the continuity of outstanding person care last week Our facilities were staffed by physicians experienced managers and trained staff along with nearly contracted nurses clinicians and others who worked with us during the strike Kaiser commented in a message Sunday morning The talks will resume Wednesday and Thursday with a focus on economic issues and a return to the national bargaining table was scheduled for Oct - While the Alliance has publicly emphasized staffing and other concerns wages are the reason for the strike and the primary issue in negotiations Kaiser revealed We recognize our employees hard work and have offered a strong contract proposal that includes in total base wage increases over four years and enhances their high-value medicinal plans and retiree benefits The strike was part of a walkout involving members of the United Nurses Associations of California Union of Strength Care Professionals UNAC UHCP Members include registered nurses pharmacists physician assistants rehab therapists dietitians speech-language pathologists nurse anesthetists nurse practitioners midwives and other specialty wellbeing workers Picketing was held at three facilities in San Diego County Zion Biological Center in Grantville San Diego Anatomical Center in Kearny Mesa and San Marcos Curative Center UNAC UHCP executives posted a report on the union s website What we ve shown this week is the collective strength of fitness care professionals who refuse to stay silent while individual care suffers disclosed Charmaine Morales RN and president of UNAC UHCP We ve been loud visible and united and it s working Our pressure on these lines has compelled Kaiser Permanente to come back to the table Now we expect management to do what s right commit to enforceable staffing standards and fair pay for the professionals who keep our communities healthy Union administrators declared the strike sent a powerful message This strike has shown the incredible unity and determination of our members across California and Hawaii UNAC UHCP Executive Director Joe Guzynski declared For five days tens of thousands of fitness care professionals stood together for their patients their colleagues and the future of care at Kaiser Permanente Their strength and solidarity have made a real impact and as we return to the bargaining table next week we do so expecting Kaiser to address the staffing situation in a serious way a way that ensures quality sufferer care