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More than 75,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente have warned they will go on a nationwide strike in early October if a deal cannot be reached in the coming days to address dangerous understaffing issues plaguing the healthcare giant.

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions said talks broke down after the final bargaining session failed to resolve the staffing crisis that has led to excessive wait times and safety risks for patients. The unions warned they will strike at hundreds of Kaiser facilities across at least six states and Washington D.C. from Oct. 4–6 when their contract expires Sept. 30.

Kaiser Permanente is the largest nonprofit integrated healthcare system in the U.S., serving nearly 13 million patients across 39 hospitals and over 600 medical offices. A walkout by thousands of employees ranging from medical assistants to pharmacists would significantly disrupt operations.

But the unions say persistent understaffing has created an untenable situation. “Kaiser executives refuse to acknowledge how much patient care has deteriorated or how much the frontline healthcare workforce and patients are suffering because of the Kaiser short-staffing crisis,” said Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.

The unions voted overwhelmingly last week to authorize strike action after talks stalled. However, Kaiser maintains that the claims are misleading and continues to urge employees to reject calls for a walkout.

“Our top priority is caring for our members and patients, and we have plans in place to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care should a strike actually occur,” the company said in a statement.

Nonprofit Kaiser Permanente Struggles With Understaffing Complaints

While understaffing has impacted hospitals nationwide, the unions say the situation at Kaiser has become particularly troublesome. Kaiser is the largest nonprofit integrated health system in the country, serving regions like California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Washington D.C.

Complaints from employees indicate that inadequate staffing levels have led to excessive appointment wait times, rushed patient visits, bed shortages, and delayed or denied care. Unions argue that the understaffing creates safety issues for both patients and overworked employees.

“Care is fundamentally about having the time to listen to patients,” said Elizabeth Hawkins, a Kaiser psychologist in California and SEIU bargaining committee member. “We’ve watched the standard of care erode as patients endure increasingly long wait times.”

The union believes inadequate staffing stems largely from Kaiser’s focus on profits and executive compensation rather than patient needs. But Kaiser claims the unions have put forth misleading information and that most employees don’t actually support a strike.

Kaiser Highlights Contingency Plans, Prior Strike Aversion

Despite the strike threat, Kaiser Permanente says its priority remains providing high-quality care to members and patients. The company insists it will continue working in good faith toward a resolution before the Sept. 30 contract expiration.

“The Coalition unions are positioned to strike in October. However, for the last 26 years of our historic labor-management partnership, we have reached agreements with the Coalition every time, with no strikes,” Kaiser noted.

The healthcare provider says it has contingency plans to ensure care delivery in the event of an actual work stoppage. Kaiser also touts a long history of averting strikes through successful last-minute negotiations.

The unions counter that Kaiser has failed to act with enough urgency to address the staffing crisis plaguing its facilities. Previous Kaiser strikes have been narrowly avoided, but unions believe the understaffing issues now require bold action.

Nurses Lead Push for State Legislation to Address Understaffing

Along with the looming strike threat, Kaiser also faces pressure from advocacy groups like the California Nurses Association pushing for legislation to address inadequate staffing.

“Nurses and health care workers agree that Kaiser is unprepared to deal with overcrowded hospitals and emergency rooms, antiquated IT systems that frequently crash, and patients stuck waiting for lab results and appointments,” said Cathy Kennedy, a Kaiser nurse and CNA vice president.

The nurses association is sponsoring a state bill that would establish minimum staffing requirements in hospitals based on patient needs. The legislation aims to alleviate understaffing issues like those cited by Kaiser unions.

With patient demand increasing post-pandemic, healthcare workers argue that staffing levels must keep pace to maintain quality of care and workplace safety. But hospitals contend that mandated staffing ratios could significantly raise costs and reduce flexibility.

As Kaiser confronts worker unrest, the coming days will prove crucial in averting or planning for large-scale strikes across its vast U.S. healthcare system. Stay updated on progress through labor negotiations and the potential for disruptive walkouts.

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