Kaiser workers are on (or preparing for) strike mainly over safe staffing, pay, and stalled contract negotiations , framed as an “unfair labor practice” dispute over whether Kaiser is bargaining in good faith.

What’s happening

  • Around 31,000 Kaiser nurses and other health professionals in California and Hawaii have issued a strike notice for an open‑ended walkout starting January 26, 2026, after contract talks broke down.
  • This follows a previous five‑day work stoppage in October 2025, with unions saying the core problems were never resolved.

Main reasons Kaiser is on strike

  • Chronic understaffing and safety: Unions say staffing levels are too low, causing longer wait times, delayed or canceled appointments and surgeries, and increased risk of errors, which they argue is harming patients.
  • Wages and cost of living: Workers argue Kaiser’s wage offers do not keep up with inflation and high housing and living costs in places like California and Hawaii, making it hard to retain staff.
  • Retirement and benefits: Some unionized professionals lack pensions and are pushing for stronger long‑term retirement security given demanding frontline work.

“Unfair labor practice” claims

  • The union (UNAC/UHCP) filed an unfair labor practice charge, saying Kaiser tried to sidestep the agreed national bargaining process and stalled negotiations instead of meeting at the table.
  • They argue Kaiser has “billions in reserves” and continues expansion projects while refusing to fully fund staffing and wage improvements at existing facilities, which they say shows the company can afford better terms.

How Kaiser frames it

  • Kaiser says publicly it wants an agreement that balances fair pay for workers with keeping care affordable for members, and has criticized union messaging that portrays it as sitting on huge “reserves” as misleading.
  • Supporters of Kaiser online argue some union reports exaggerate its financial position and that aggressive public campaigns have made negotiations harder.

What it means for patients right now

  • The strike is expected to affect nearly 20 hospitals and about 200 clinics from San Diego to Oakland and Honolulu, potentially disrupting non‑urgent surgeries and appointments.
  • Patients are being told to still show up for scheduled care unless they are contacted with a cancellation or change, but to expect possible delays or rescheduling during the strike period.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.