More than 85,000 Kaiser Permanente workers have voted to ratify a new labor contract that will boost wages, promote increased hiring and give front-line healthcare employees a stronger voice on the job.
The workers, represented by the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, voted 98.5% in favor of the four-year labor agreement that runs from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2027. It affects Kaiser employees in facilities across California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Kaiser operates three dozen hospitals and more than 500 medical offices throughout California.
“This is more than a contract – it signals a new day for frontline healthcare workers and for patient safety across Kaiser facilities,” said Angelica Mateo, a licensed vocational nurse at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. “When healthcare workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder to fight for our patients and our jobs, we can win.”
The contract follows months of tense negotiations and comes on the heels of a three-day unfair labor practice strike in early October that included 75,000 Kaiser employees — a move that was compounded by the threat of another walkout.
A tentative agreement was reached Oct. 13 following Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su’s involvement in helping the two sides bridge the gap on key issues.
“Frontline healthcare workers across states, facilities and professions have shown the world what is possible through unity,” Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, said in a statement.
The contract will:
- Raise wages by 21% over four years to better retain current employees
- Establish a minimum wage of $25 an hour in California
- Place new limits on subcontracting and outsourcing
- Create a one-year accelerated hiring process
- Upskill existing workers
In a Thursday, Nov. 9 online posting, Kaiser said the agreements “will help ensure we remain a best place to work and receive care.”
“We will begin implementing the national contract immediately,” the healthcare giant said. “We look forward to working together through the labor management partnership to advance our mission of providing high-quality, affordable healthcare services and improving the health of our members and the communities we serve.”
The unions said last month that outsourcing was a major sticking point in negotiations, as Kaiser executives “have refused to place limitations on subcontracting and outsourcing.” Limits, they said, would keep experienced healthcare workers on the job and provide continuity of care for patients.
Jessica Cruz, a licensed vocational nurse at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center, said employees have been stretched thin.
“I see my patients’ frustrations when I have to rush them and hurry on to my next patient,” Cruz said recently. “We’re burning ourselves out trying to do the jobs of two or three people, and our patients suffer.”
Caroline Lucas, executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, said the contract is a victory for Kaiser’s patients and employees.
“Today, we celebrate a huge step forward in addressing persistent staffing problems,” she said. “When healthcare workers win, we all win.”