Thousands of health care professionals across California and Hawaii have walked off the job in what is being called the largest strike in the history of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). Beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, more than 31,000 registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, rehabilitation therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other advanced care providers are participating in the five-day strike against Kaiser Permanente, demanding better pay, benefits, and working conditions. The strike is scheduled to last until 7 a.m. Sunday.
Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, said all hospitals and facilities will remain open during the strike, though patients may experience some disruptions in non-urgent services. The organization emphasized that it has contingency plans in place, including bringing in 7,600 temporary health care workers and reassigning about 1,000 employees to maintain essential operations.
Union leaders say the walkout is the result of stalled negotiations after their contract expired on September 30. The workers accuse Kaiser of reducing retirement benefits and failing to provide pay increases that reflect inflation and the rising cost of living in California and Hawaii. They also cite chronic understaffing, burnout, and what they describe as unsafe working conditions that have put both employees and patients at risk.
Kaiser has pushed back on those claims, stating that its employee turnover rate among unionized workers is only 8 percent, compared to a national industry average of 20 percent. The organization also pointed out that its union members earn roughly 16 percent more than their peers in similar positions across the health care sector.
In its most recent proposal, Kaiser offered a 21.5 percent wage increase over four years, but union representatives rejected the offer, demanding a 25 percent increase to match the current economic conditions. According to Kaiser, meeting those demands would require raising insurance premiums for its 12.5 million members.
“We respect the Alliance and value their members — our employees — for the vital role they play caring for our patients,” Kaiser said in a statement. “A strike is unnecessary when a generous offer is on the table. It is designed to disrupt the lives of our patients — the very people we are all here to serve.”
Union officials argue that Kaiser’s financial position leaves it well equipped to meet the workers’ demands. They point to the organization’s reported $66 billion in reserves, claiming it has ample resources to support fair wages and adequate staffing levels. “This is not just about pay — it’s about respect, safety, and the sustainability of our healthcare system,” said one union spokesperson.
The strike affects hundreds of Kaiser locations across the two states, including major medical centers in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. Patients with scheduled appointments are being advised to check with their local facilities for updates or rescheduling options.
As negotiations continue, the strike highlights broader concerns across the U.S. healthcare industry, where workers are increasingly speaking out about understaffing, excessive workloads, and compensation that has not kept pace with inflation. Both sides have indicated a willingness to return to the bargaining table, but with thousands of employees now off the job, the dispute underscores the growing tension between healthcare providers and the professionals who sustain them.
Whether the strike leads to meaningful progress or further divisions remains to be seen, but for now, tens of thousands of healthcare workers are making their voices heard in a historic show of solidarity across California and Hawaii.
