MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 a.m. PT

CONTACT: press@unacuhcp.org
**Photos and videos of Kaiser nurses’ first day on strike available here, courtesy of UNAC/UHCP** 

STILL READY: Tens of Thousands of Health Care  Workers Continue Day 3 of 5-Day Kaiser Strike

31,000 nurses and other health care professionals from 500+ hospitals and clinics vow to keep fighting for patient care and fair contracts

LOS ANGELES — Thirty-one thousand United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) registered nurses and health care professionals across California and Hawaii are entering Day 3 of their historic five-day strike at Kaiser Permanente to protect patient care and demand real solutions to unsafe staffing and wage inequities.

The strike began Tuesday, October 14, at 7 a.m. and will end Sunday, October 19, at 7 a.m., unless Kaiser Permanente comes to the table with meaningful movement on staffing and compensation to attract and retain caregivers.

“Our colleagues are leaving for better working conditions and pay – on average increase in pay of about 25 percent,” said Jeff Cathcart, a certified nurse anesthetist working at Kaiser South San Francisco. Cathcart is also a member of his local bargaining team, where he has witnessed firsthand delays and denials from Kaiser management. “When we can’t retain and recruit enough staff, that leads to access issues for our patients. And that’s what we’re out here fighting for.”

Cathcart recalled a recent bargaining session that lasted until 2:00 a.m. He and his fellow union colleagues were ready with proposals to improve patient care. 

“Just as we were prepared to move forward, management walked away from the table,” said Cathcart, who has worked at Kaiser for more than 20 years before joining a group of certified nurse anesthetists organizing with the union more than a year ago. “As CRNAs, we are a critical part of surgical care. Patients depend on us every single day. Instead of recognizing our essential role, Kaiser is trying to reduce our benefits and diminish our voice at work. We gave management every opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and work toward fair solutions, but they chose to walk away.”

“Despite this, we remain united, committed, and fully prepared to keep fighting for what we deserve.”

UNAC/UHCP members have reached their breaking point, but our resolve is unwavering. When negotiations resume, caregivers will be back at the table ready to protect patient safety, demand fair compensation, and insist on staffing levels that prevent dangerous delays in care.

“If you break your wrist, you’re going to have to wait one to two weeks to see us,” said Arezou Mansourian, a physician assistant in orthopedics at Kaiser Walnut Creek. “Dermatology has six-month waits. A colonoscopy? Three to six months in most areas.”
 

PICKET LINES —THURSDAY, OCT. 16

UNAC/UHCP Picketing at the Following Major Kaiser Permanente Locations

 

Northern California: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT

Oakland Medical Center, 3600 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

Roseville Medical Center, 1600 Eureka Rd, Roseville, CA 95661

Santa Clara Medical Center, 700 Lawrence Expy, Santa Clara, CA 95051

 

Southern California: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT

Kaiser Stockdale Medical Offices, 3501 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Anaheim Medical Center, 3440 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806

Los Angeles Medical Center, 4867 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Baldwin Park Medical Center, 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd, Baldwin Park, CA 91706

Downey Medical Center, 9333 Imperial Hwy, Downey, CA 90242

Panorama City Medical Center, 13651 Willard St., Panorama City, CA 91402

South Bay Medical Center, 25825 Vermont Ave, Harbor City, CA 90710

West Los Angeles Medical Center, 6041 Cadillac Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Woodland Hills Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Kaiser Permanente Lancaster Medical Offices, 43112 15th St. W, Lancaster, CA 93534

Fontana Medical Center, 9961 Sierra Ave., Fontana, CA 92335

Ontario Medical Center, 2295 S Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91761

Riverside Medical Center, 10800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92505

San Marcos Medical Center, 360 Rush Dr, San Marcos, CA 92078

San Diego Medical Center, 9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123

 

Hawaii: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. HST

Honolulu Medical Office, 1010 Pensacola St, Honolulu, HI 96814

*Moanalua Medical Center, 3288 Moanalua Rd, Honolulu, HI 96819 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. HST)

Maui Lani Elua Clinic, 55 Maui Lani Parkway, Wailuku, HI 96793

For more information: UNACUHCP.org

 

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United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) represents more than 40,000 registered nurses and healthcare professionals in California and Hawaii, including optometrists; pharmacists; physical, occupational and speech therapists; case managers; nurse midwives; social workers; clinical lab scientists; physician assistants and nurse practitioners; hospital support and technical staff. UNAC/UHCP is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO.