In a significant show of solidarity, over 31,000 nurses and healthcare workers from Kaiser Permanente across California and Hawaii are poised to begin their strike today. The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), spearheading the action, has accused Kaiser of engaging in underhanded negotiation tactics and intimidating its staff. According to KITV, the strike is not solely focused on wage disputes but represents a wider frustration with unsafe working conditions and the prioritization of profits over patient care.
Despite an offer from the union to resume negotiations, the strike is to continue as planned with 240 employees from Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, including pharmacists and certified registered nurse anesthetists, gearing up to join their California counterparts. Following a previous five-day work stoppage in October after contract expirations, this conflict has been boiling for some months. Nurse practitioner Dionicia Lagapa expressed to Hawaii News Now that local bargaining has made good progress and should be prioritized to quickly secure wage increases, improved benefits, and new contracts for employees, which they rightfully deserve.
The decision to strike comes after months of stalled national negotiations that began in May 2025. Local Kaiser Permanente health care professionals, such as Rachel Stone, a Kaiser Moanalua ambulatory care pharmacist, have voiced firm concerns regarding patient safety and the necessity for adequate staffing. "We see the things that can be fixed. We see the things can be better, but we're not getting the things that we need. So, we want the union to advocate that — not just for us, but for the patients," Stone told KHON2.
However, Kaiser maintains that there's a strong economic package on the table for Hawaii's UNAC workers, reportedly including a 21.5% wage increase. "A UNAC represented pharmacist currently makes about $165,000 a year. Under this new offer, their wages would increase to $200,000 a year," Lagapa told KHON2. Amidst these tensions, Kaiser has assured patients that all facilities will remain operational with some pharmacy locations potentially closed. Through their website and mobile app, they are offering updates and information for patients affected by the ongoing labor dispute.
