Kaiser Strike Ends After Five Days Without Agreement

More than 31,000 healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente concluded a five-day strike on October 19, 2025, without reaching a labor agreement. The walkout, which began on October 14, involved nurses and healthcare professionals demanding fair contracts across multiple states, including California, Oregon, and Washington.

Union members from the United Nurses Associations of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals participated in picketing activities, notably outside the Downey Medical Center in California. Despite the extensive mobilization, Kaiser officials confirmed that no negotiations occurred during the strike. However, discussions are scheduled to resume on October 22 and 23, with further meetings planned for October 28 and 29 if initial talks do not yield satisfactory outcomes.

Kaiser’s labor contracts had expired on September 30 and October 1, prompting local unions to file 10-day strike notices. The strike resulted in large numbers of healthcare workers walking picket lines daily at various Kaiser facilities. According to Kaiser spokesman Terry Kanakri, the primary focus of the negotiations will be economic issues, particularly wages, which are the central concern for the striking workers.

“The focus will be on economic issues,” Kanakri stated. “While the alliance has publicly emphasized staffing and other concerns, wages are the reason for the strike and the primary issue in negotiations.” Kaiser has offered a wage increase of 21.5%, whereas the union initially sought a 38% raise over four years, later adjusting their demand to 25%.

The strike marked the largest in Kaiser’s history, leading the healthcare provider to hire temporary staff from across the country to maintain critical patient care roles. Reports indicate that compensation for these replacement workers ranged from $78 to $130 per hour, depending on their job responsibilities.

In addition to nurses, the strike included approximately 4,000 workers represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. This action led to the temporary closure of some Kaiser pharmacies, as the union alliance also involved pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals. Local 7600 of the United Steelworkers Union, representing over 8,600 Kaiser workers, also participated in the strike.

Although they were not striking at this time, Locals 324 and 770, representing around 2,200 pharmacy assistants and clinical staff in Southern California, voted on October 15 to authorize a strike in response to unfair labor practices. Their potential walkout could further impact Kaiser’s pharmacy services, with union representatives indicating that most pharmacies may need to close if action is taken.

The urgency of the situation is underscored by the fact that contracts for various unions are nearing expiration. Brent Beltran, a spokesman for UFCW Local 135, indicated that his union, representing 350 workers in San Diego County, also voted to authorize a strike, which could lead to a formal notice as their contract expires on October 31.

Kaiser Permanente operates extensively throughout the western United States, including 16 hospitals and 199 medical offices in Southern California alone. The company employs nearly 91,200 staff and serves approximately 4.9 million members in the region. Nationwide, Kaiser has 608 medical offices and 40 hospitals, with substantial operations in other states like Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

As negotiations recommence, both sides express the need for dialogue. Charmaine Morales, president of the United Nurses Associations of California, welcomed the opportunity to return to the negotiating table, emphasizing the importance of addressing patient care alongside economic concerns.

The outcome of these negotiations will be critical not only for the healthcare workers involved but also for the millions of patients who rely on Kaiser’s services.