More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente employees have begun a strike, leaving hospitals all over California and Hawaii severely understaffed. With demands refused by the company’s higher-ups, thousands of appointments, surgeries, and treatments have been redirected to separate medical facilities or postponed until the strike is over. Protestors have refused to back down until a fair contract has been reached.

In association with United Nurses Associations of California/ Union of Health Care Professionals, healthcare workers demanded fair wages, benefit security, and complained of having more patients than staff to serve. The strike is meant to not only fight for better conditions, but also to prove the workers are valued by the company. “We are fed up with being overworked, disrespected, undervalued, and with Kaiser’s illegal attempts to intimidate us out of getting a fair contract,” said pharmacy technician Angelica Muro.

However, Kaiser Permanente has chosen to deny bargaining negotiations. Kaiser Permanente has kept their facilities open, ensuring their patients’ safety and access to safety are kept as top-priority. “This open-ended strike by UNAC/UHCP is unnecessary when such a generous offer is on the table,” stated Kaiser Permanente in response.

“It is important to strike to show their strength and unity as a union to help get the negotiations moving,” stated a local registered nurse for Kaiser Downey. This strike is impacting families across the state, with many being the only provider for their household.

Although Kaiser Permanente has a large history with unions and strikes, this has been one of the longest to date. With negotiations and bargaining between union and company unsuccessful, it is unsure when this strike will end.