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More than 40,000 healthcare workers have walked off the job at Kaiser Permanente, demanding better wages, safer staffing, and greater input into patient care decisions. The strike impacts multiple West Coast states, with a significant number in California.
October 16, 2025
Source:
John Smith/Getty Images
Healthcare Workers Picket Across Four States
More than 40,000 Kaiser Permanente employees began a major strike on October 14, spanning California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Southwest Washington. Roughly 31,000 of those participating are in California. The strike includes registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, therapists, and other vital staff represented by United Nurses Associations of California (UNAC/UHCP) and the Alliance of Health Care Unions (UNAC/UHCP).
Wide-Ranging Impact
Striking workers make up a significant part of patient-facing hospital staff.
Facilities in major cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco have seen large picket lines, as shown in recent video coverage by KTLA 5.
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Source:
Jane Doe/AP Images
Main Demands: Wages, Staffing, and Patient Care
Union leaders stress that the strike is aimed at securing fair wages as well as safe staffing ratios and a real frontline voice in care decisions. They argue that these issues are essential for maintaining quality of care and reducing worker burnout, citing ongoing staffing shortages and the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic (The New York Times).
Union Statement
"We are fighting for every patient we care for, and for every healthcare worker who asks for fair treatment and a manageable workload," a UNAC/UHCP spokesperson stated. Unions say striking was a last resort after months of unsuccessful contract talks.
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Source:
Reuters/Emily Zhang
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