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The 2023 Kaiser Permanente strike was the largest walkout by health care workers in US history: more than 75,000 staff stopped work for three days, from 4 to 6 October 2023, over unsafe staffing and pay. A week later, the unions won a 21% raise over four years and commitments to hire more staff.
Key points
- More than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers struck from 4 to 6 October 2023 in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
- The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions said staffing levels were unsafe and asked for long-term investment in staff, plus better pay.
- On 13 October 2023 the two sides reached a tentative deal: 21% wage increases over four years and minimum wages of $25 an hour in California and $23 elsewhere.
Who went on strike
The strike involved vocational nurses, emergency department and radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, pharmacists, and hundreds of other roles. Kaiser said hospitals and emergency departments stayed open under contingency plans, though some routine appointments were moved.
What the Kaiser Permanente strike won
- A 21% pay rise spread over four years.
- New minimum wages: $25 an hour in California and $23 an hour in other states.
- Limits on using subcontractors and outside temporary staffing firms.
- Recruitment measures including training programs, referral bonuses, and job fairs, with hard-to-fill posts prioritised. Union leaders projected about 25,000 new hires over four years.
What it means for nurses
- Staffing, not only pay, was at the centre of the dispute. The deal shows that safe-staffing demands can be written into contracts.
- The strike set a benchmark that other US health unions have pointed to since.
- If you are weighing a US job offer, ask about union representation, staffing ratios, and recent contract changes.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Kaiser Permanente strike?
The strike ran for three days, from 4 to 6 October 2023, across California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Virginia, and Washington, DC. More than 75,000 union members took part, making it the largest health care worker strike in US history.
What did Kaiser workers get after the strike?
A tentative agreement reached on 13 October 2023 gave workers a 21% raise over four years, minimum wages of $25 an hour in California and $23 elsewhere, limits on outsourcing, and new recruitment programs to fill vacancies.
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- New: Brigham nurses contract vote: nurses reject deal over pay
- Read more on US nurse strikes: the Providence Santa Rosa nurses strike.
Sources
- 75,000 workers strike at hundreds of Kaiser Permanente health facilities, NBC News, October 2023
- After historic strike, Kaiser Permanente workers win 21% raise over 4 years, NPR (via KUNC), 13 October 2023
- Original report: BBC News, Washington (Bernd Debusmann Jr), October 2023
This summary is for information only and does not replace official guidance or advice from a qualified professional.
