Tens of thousands of California health care workers began striking Monday morning amid a long-simmering battle with employer Kaiser Permanente over wages and staffing levels.
Members of the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals — which represents more than 40,000 registered nurses and health workers across California and Hawaii — launched the strike at 7 a.m. Monday after contract talks stalled at the end of 2025.
Workers have accused Kaiser of failing to invest in staffing despite a state-backed pay bump, members say.
The walkout comes after the health care giant recently offered a 21% wage increase, fueling union claims that management has the resources to hire more staff but has chosen not to.
The union said workers will remain off hospital floors in the Golden State and Hawaii until Kaiser reaches a labor agreement, the Los Angeles Times reported.
