Kaiser Permanente workers say they are unlikely to reach deal to avert strike

Registered nurses at Kaiser Permanente San Diego conduct an early morning one-day informational picket outside one of the company’s three medical centers in San Diego, California, September 19, 2023.

Mike Blake | Reuters

The coalition of unions representing health-care workers at Kaiser Permanente said late on Saturday it is unlikely there will be a new agreement with the health-care provider, as their current contract expires and the unions prepare for strike action.

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions said it and the company remained far apart on important issues.

Earlier in September, more than 75,000 Kaiser health-care workers called for a strike from Oct. 4 to Oct.7 across California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Virginia and Washington DC, in what would be the largest healthcare workers' strike, according to the coalition.

Workers of the coalition are demanding resolution on a short staffing crisis, a pay increase and an improvement in medical plans.

A tight U.S. labor market, the expiry of union contracts and high living costs have led to tough negotiations for pay hikes and benefits from workers and triggered strikes and protests across industries.

Nearly 309,700 workers have been involved in work stoppages and strikes through August this year, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, putting 2023 on track to become the busiest year for strikes since 2019.

A union of auto workers in the United States has also been on strike against the Detroit Three automakers: Ford, General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis.