Press Releases Oct 13, 2025

31,000 RNs, Health Care Professionals Begin Historic Kaiser Strike Today

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**Photos and videos of Kaiser nurses’ recent action available here, courtesy of UNAC/UHCP**

31,000 UNAC/UHCP HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO STRIKE AT KAISER PERMANENTE OVER FUTURE OF PATIENT CARE

UNAC/UHCP RNs and other frontline professionals from 500+ hospitals and clinics join historic five-day strike across California and Hawaii

Strike marks largest action in UNAC/UHCP’s 50-year history to win safe staffing, fair pay, and protect patient care

LOS ANGELES, CA – Tens of thousands of frontline Kaiser Permanente registered nurses and health care professionals across California and Hawaii in the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals(UNAC/UHCP) will go on strike Tuesday to protect the future of patient care.

The strike will begin at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, and end at 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Kaiser employees are launching a 5-day strike against Kaiser Permanente — not because they want to, but because they have to. Click here for a schedule: UNAC/UHCP Announces Locations for Kaiser Strike – UNAC/UHCP.

The 31,000 members of UNAC/UHCP are among the 46,000 members of the Alliance of Health Care Unions, who will strike Kaiser mainly on the West Coast in California, Hawaii, and Oregon.

For months, UNAC/UHCP has bargained in good faith to address unsafe staffing, stagnant wages, and deteriorating patient care conditions. Kaiser’s public messaging highlights a “21.5% wage increase over four years,” but what it doesn’t mention is years of wage freezes during record inflation, cuts for new union members, and the real daily impact these conditions have on patient care.

This story isn’t just about numbers — it’s about patients, burnout, and a health care system at a breaking point. Kaiser made nearly $13 billion in profit in 2024 and holds $66 billion in reserves, yet refuses to meet reasonable proposals that would stabilize the workforce and improve care.

While Kaiser is issuing polished statements and buying expensive ads, frontline health care workers are struggling to be heard and prepared to share their firsthand stories.

Kaiser has consistently increased its insurance rates, regardless of the status of its contracts with nurses or other health care workers. These rate hikes are driven by underlying cost pressures in the U.S. health care system, including soaring pharmaceutical price increases. UNAC/UHCP is fighting for resources to go to patient care, not Kaiser executives or company reserves.

We invite you to:

Visit a picket line to hear directly from those delivering patient care.
Speak with nurses and health care professionals about what’s at stake.
Look past the press releases and shine a light on what’s happening inside Kaiser hospitals and clinics.

Kaiser has not matched wage increases achieved by other unions in similar markets. Our union made repeated attempts to reach a fair agreement. This dispute centers on staffing levels, respect for professional expertise, and patient safety — not just pay. This strike is about protecting the future of patient care. If Kaiser’s tactics succeed, it sets a dangerous precedent for the entire health care sector.

The Truth About Kaiser’s Offer: https://www.downtownmelody.com/_x/dW5hY3VoY3Aub3Jn/truthaboutkaiseroffer/
The Truth About Why We Are Striking: https://www.downtownmelody.com/_x/dW5hY3VoY3Aub3Jn/news/press-statement-the-truth-about-why-we-are-striking/
Kaiser National Bargaining Updates: https://www.downtownmelody.com/_x/dW5hY3VoY3Aub3Jn/news/kaiser-national-bargaining/
Stories From Our UNAC/UHCP members: https://www.downtownmelody.com/_x/dW5hY3VoY3Aub3Jn/stories/
Comprehensive Strike Information: https://www.downtownmelody.com/_x/dW5hY3VoY3Aub3Jn/ready/

We’d be happy to connect you with frontline workers available for interviews or provide additional background: [email protected].

Who: 31,000 UNAC/UHCP members strike at Kaiser Permanente, including registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians, and other specialty health care professionals.
What: Five-day strike on behalf of safe staffing, fair compensation, and respect for caregivers at 500+ Kaiser facilities in CA and HI (Alliance unions also on strike in California, Hawaii, and Oregon)
When: Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00 a.m. local time in California and Hawaii (strike begins)
Where: Key California and Hawaii picket locations from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time (See details below)

TUESDAY 10/14 SCHEDULE

Southern California

LOS ANGELES

Kaiser South Bay Medical Center, 25825 Vermont Ave., Harbor City, CA 90710 (7 a.m.: nurses and health care professionals walk out of the hospital together with UNAC/UHCP President Charmaine S. Morales, RN, who started her Kaiser career there)
Kaiser Woodland Hills Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (7 a.m.: nurses and health care professionals walk out of the hospital together with UNAC/UHCP Executive Vice President Peter Sidhu, RN, who worked in the ICU there)
Kaiser Riverside Medical Center, 10800 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92505 (7 a.m.: nurses and health care professionals walk out of the hospital together with UNAC/UHCP Executive Secretary Elizabeth Hawkins, RN, who was an ER nurse at Riverside for 31 years)
Kaiser Baldwin Park Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367(7 a.m.: nurses and health care professionals walk out of the hospital together with UNAC/UHCP Executive Treasurer Moises Alarcon, RN, who worked in the ER at Baldwin Park)
Kaiser Downey Medical Center, 9333 Imperial Hwy, Downey, CA (3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., AFSCME President Lee Saunders greets strikers at one of Kaiser’s busiest hospitals. UNAC/UHCP is a local affiliate of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees)

About our unacuhcp.org leaders: https://www.downtownmelody.com/_x/dW5hY3VoY3Aub3Jn/our-team

Jeff Cathcart, CRNA, Certified Nurse Anesthetist, Kaiser South San Francisco, Northern California:

“At 2:00 a.m., we were ready to present real solutions that reflect the priorities of the certified registered nurse anesthetists who keep Kaiser’s surgical services running every day. Instead of bargaining in good faith, management walked away. We’re not backing down — we’re standing together to protect our patients, our profession, and our voice at work.”

Nicole Wooten, RN, Registered Nurse, Kaiser Riverside, Southern California:

“Too many patients means you’re constantly prioritizing: who needs help most right now, who can wait another five minutes, even if they’re uncomfortable or lonely. Nursing is supposed to be about care. But when there aren’t enough of us, it turns into survival for the patients and for the nurses.”

Roland Jackson, PT, Physical Therapist, Kaiser Roseville, Northern California:

“Increasing workloads and administrative changes have made it challenging to maintain this level of care. Now, it’s not uncommon for patients to wait a month or more between appointments. Without consistent and timely appointments, we risk compromising recovery outcomes and patient trust, especially among vulnerable populations.”

Matt Piskura, PT, Physical Therapist, Kaiser Moanalua, Hawaii:

“As a physical therapist, I’ve always focused on helping patients — that’s why we’re standing together. Safe staffing and fair working conditions aren’t just about us, they’re about making sure our patients get the care they deserve.”

Walter Fulgram, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Interventional Cardiology, Kaiser Santa Clara, Northern California:

“It wasn’t just about advocating for me. It was about everyone who didn’t have the tools or voice to speak up. More than anything, this contract will give us a seat at the table — now, and again in the future.”