Our medical system is just like our education system—completely broken.
According to sources, more than 75,000 workers in the Kaiser healthcare system stormed out of their jobs on Wednesday in an organized protest against Kaiser’s practices.
The workers cite reduced staff and long hours as some of the primary reasons they were striking—echoing the rallying cry of “patients, not profits.”
Journalist Katie Hawkinson characterized the protests as the largest in U.S. history:
“The largest healthcare strike in US history is happening today. 75k+ Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers across the country are on the picket lines right now.
“Patients. Not profits.” Reporting from the Kaiser Permanente Springfield Medical Center.”
The largest healthcare strike in US history is happening today. 75k+ Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers across the country are on the picket lines right now.
“Patients. Not profits.”
Reporting from the Kaiser Permanente Springfield Medical Center. pic.twitter.com/qZog5FBpcK
— Katie Hawkinson (@katie_hawkinson) October 4, 2023
More Perfect Union reports: “This morning at 6 a.m. Pacific health care workers at Kaiser Permanente walked out on strike. 75,000 workers just launched the biggest strike the U.S. health care industry has ever seen.”
This morning at 6 a.m. Pacific health care workers at Kaiser Permanente walked out on strike.
75,000 workers just launched the biggest strike the U.S. health care industry has ever seen. pic.twitter.com/0646ATKkY2
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) October 4, 2023
BREAKING: Over 75,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente have launched the biggest strike in U.S. health care history.
The union contract covering these vital health care workers has expired, so now they’re walking out for raises that keep up with inflation, and better patient care.
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) October 4, 2023
The Associated Press provided more coverage:
Kaiser Permanente is one of the country’s larger insurers and health care system operators, with 39 hospitals nationwide.
The nonprofit company, based in Oakland, California, provides health coverage for nearly 13 million people, sending customers to clinics and hospitals it runs or contracts with to provide care.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, representing about 85,000 of the health system’s employees nationally, approved a strike for three days in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, and for one day in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Another pro-union page shared scenes of striking healthcare workers in Anaheim California, as the nationwide strike commences.
IT'S HAPPENING: The Kaiser Permanente strike is ON, making today the biggest healthcare strike in American history.
This is the scene as workers walk in Orange County, CA as workers walk off in Anaheim!@AboutKP: wake up. #United4All #SolidaritySeason #ISupportKaiserWorkers pic.twitter.com/FYyULPaFk5
— Dripped Out Trade Unionists (@UnionDrip) October 4, 2023
Just The News outlined some of the workers’ grievances:
The union coalition said that it has yet to receive an overall package that addresses its top issues, but some tentative agreements have been reached, such as a 40% increase to the employees’ education fund which will help union members receive training needed for promotions.
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