Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers walked off the job Tuesday in a historic five-day strike across the U.S. West Coast, demanding better wages, safer staffing levels, and protections for patient care. The action—spanning over 500 hospitals and clinics in California, Hawaii, and beyond—marks the largest-ever strike by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. 🚨
"This isn’t a choice—it’s a necessity," the union stated, accusing Kaiser of prioritizing profits over workers and patients. Striking employees include nurses, lab technicians, and support staff, many holding signs reading "Patients Before Profits" outside facilities in Los Angeles and other cities. 📢
Kaiser Permanente, which serves 12.6 million members, called the strike "disruptive" but pledged to continue negotiations. The nonprofit healthcare giant faces criticism for staffing shortages that workers say endanger care quality. 💼
With talks stalled, the strike highlights growing tensions in the U.S. healthcare sector, where burnout and inflation have fueled labor disputes. Will this walkout spark a broader movement? Stay tuned. 🔍
