Kaiser health care workers across California, Hawaii go on strike, pushing for new contract

January 27, 2026 - 05:08

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees across California and Hawaii walked off the job on Monday, launching a significant strike to protest what they describe as unfair labor practices and to push for a new contract. The work stoppage involves a wide range of frontline healthcare staff, including licensed vocational nurses, emergency department technicians, and radiology technicians.

The coalition of unions representing the workers states that the primary issues include severe understaffing, which they argue compromises patient safety and burns out remaining employees. They are also negotiating for substantial wage increases to keep pace with the high cost of living, particularly in California.

This strike disrupts operations at numerous medical facilities and follows the expiration of the workers’ previous national contract. Union officials have expressed frustration over the pace of negotiations, accusing Kaiser of failing to address the critical staffing crisis adequately. The strike underscores the ongoing tensions within the healthcare industry as workers seek better working conditions and competitive compensation in the aftermath of the pandemic.