January 26, 2026
31,000 Kaiser workers begin open-ended strike over staffing
Healthcare workers walk out indefinitely as contract talks collapse
👷Labor🏥Public Health
31,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers began an open-ended strike on Jan. 26, 2026, at 7 a.m
Pacific time
This is an unfair labor practice strike, which means workers allege Kaiser violated federal labor law The strike has no set end date Workers will stay out until they reach an agreement or the union calls them back.
The striking workers hold diverse healthcare roles
They include registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, rehabilitation therapists, speech pathologists, and dietitians
All are represented by the Union of American Physicians and Allied Workers (UNAC/UHCP) This is one of the largest healthcare strikes in California history by worker count.
The strike affects more than 20 hospitals and 200 clinics across California and Hawaii
Kaiser Permanente serves one in four California residents
That's about 9.5 million people who get their healthcare through Kaiser in California The strike disrupts care for millions of patients who rely on Kaiser facilities for routine and emergency services.
The current contract expired on Sept. 30, 2025
Workers and Kaiser have been negotiating since May 2025
They conducted a five-day strike in Oct. 2025 to pressure Kaiser during negotiations Talks stalled in Dec. 2025 when Kaiser walked away from the bargaining table The union filed an NLRB unfair labor practice charge alleging Kaiser abandoned negotiations and bypassed the national bargaining structure.
Workers demand 25% raises over four years
Kaiser offered 21.5% raises over the life of the contract, with 16% in the first two years
The gap between the two positions is 3.5 percentage points on total compensation Workers also demand enforceable safe staffing ratios and limits on mandatory overtime Kaiser hasn't agreed to binding staffing commitments.
Kaiser wants to shift from national to local bargaining
Currently, UNAC/UHCP negotiates one master contract covering workers across California and Hawaii
Kaiser wants separate negotiations with local union chapters at individual facilities The union says this would weaken workers' bargaining power by dividing them into smaller units that can't leverage system-wide pressure.
The union released a report titled 'Profits Over Patients' showing Kaiser generated $7.9 billion in net income in the first three quarters of 2025. The report documents Kaiser investing in facility expansion and executive compensation while claiming it can't afford staffing increases. Kaiser reported $88.7 billion in total operating revenue in 2024.
Kaiser says its workers already earn 16% more than similar roles in the region
In some markets, Kaiser workers earn 24% more than comparable positions
Kaiser argues its compensation is competitive and that workers are rejecting reasonable offers The company says the union hasn't shown 'material movement on key economic issues for months.'
👷Labor🏥Public Health
People, bills, and sources
UNAC/UHCP
Healthcare workers union
Kaiser Permanente management
Healthcare system employer
National Labor Relations Board
Federal agency enforcing labor law
Kaiser patients
Healthcare consumers
What you can do
1
civic action
Contact Kaiser Permanente about return to bargaining
Demand Kaiser return to negotiations and agree to binding staffing ratios that protect patient safety.
Hi, I'm calling to demand Kaiser return to bargaining with UNAC/UHCP workers and agree to safe staffing ratios.
Key points to mention:
- 31,000 workers began an open-ended strike on Jan. 26
- Kaiser walked away from negotiations in Dec. 2025
- The union filed NLRB charges alleging Kaiser abandoned bargaining
- Kaiser made $7.9 billion in net income in three quarters of 2025
Questions to ask:
- When will Kaiser return to the bargaining table?
- Will Kaiser agree to binding staffing ratios to protect patient safety?
- How does Kaiser justify $7.9 billion in profits while refusing workers' demands?
Specific request: I want Kaiser to immediately resume negotiations and commit to enforceable safe staffing levels.
Thank you for your time.
2
civic action
File NLRB complaint supporting workers' unfair labor practice charge
Submit testimony to the NLRB about Kaiser's refusal to bargain in good faith and abandonment of negotiations.
I'm calling to support the UNAC/UHCP unfair labor practice charge against Kaiser Permanente.
Key points to mention:
- Kaiser left bargaining in Dec. 2025 after negotiations began in May
- 31,000 workers struck on Jan. 26 over Kaiser's refusal to bargain
- Kaiser wants to bypass national bargaining for local negotiations
- This appears to violate the duty to bargain in good faith
Specific information:
- NLRB case filed Dec. 2025
- Charging party: UNAC/UHCP
- Allegations: Abandoning negotiations, bypassing national bargaining structure
Specific request: I want the NLRB to investigate and order Kaiser to return to good-faith national bargaining.
Thank you for your time.
3
learning more
Research Kaiser's financial position and executive compensation
Examine Kaiser's tax filings and annual reports to verify claims about profits and executive pay during contract negotiations.