The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals said registered nurses and other health care professionals plan to strike at more than two dozen Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics in California and Hawaii on Jan. 26. UNAC/UHCP delivered a strike notice to Kaiser executives on Jan. 15 after contract negotiations stalled for over a month.
The dispute centers on staffing levels, access to timely and quality patient care, wages, retirement security, and what the union calls a breakdown in bargaining. UNAC/UHCP, representing roughly 31,000 Kaiser workers and part of the Alliance of Health Care Unions, filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in December, alleging Kaiser attempted to bypass the national bargaining process.
“We’re not going on strike to make noise,” said Charmaine S. Morales, RN, president of UNAC/UHCP. “We’re authorizing a strike to win staffing that protects patients, win workload standards that stop moral injury, and win the respect and dignity Kaiser has denied for far too long.”
The union says staffing shortages and rising workloads are delaying patient care, increasing the risk of errors and fueling burnout. Wage proposals have not kept pace with rising housing, food and health care costs, and years of stagnation have driven experienced staff from the profession. Retirement benefits are also at issue, with many workers lacking pension coverage. The union additionally accuses Kaiser of slowing negotiations by objecting to union communications and sidestepping established procedures.
Kaiser maintains it has made a strong, competitive offer, including a 21.5% wage increase over the life of the contract and enhanced benefits it calls among the best in the industry. The health system says it has been negotiating with the Alliance for more than seven months and remains committed to a deal that balances fair pay with affordable care. Kaiser called the strike unnecessary and potentially disruptive, noting hospitals and clinics would remain open with contingency plans to maintain care during any work stoppage.
UNAC/UHCP has criticized Kaiser for maintaining billions in reserves while understaffing facilities and expanding nationally despite claims it cannot afford staffing improvements or wage increases. The union’s contract expired Sept. 30, and members previously staged a five-day strike in October 2025. Most UNAC/UHCP members work in California, where roughly one in four residents receive care from Kaiser, with additional members in Hawaii, serving 272,000 health plan members.
Meanwhile in New York, nearly 15,000 nurses staged what has been called the largest nurses’ strike in city history, affecting NewYork‑Presbyterian, Mount Sinai and Montefiore hospitals. The walkout followed stalled contract negotiations over staffing, safety, pay and benefits. Hospitals maintained operations with temporary staff and patient transfers, while union leaders continue to push for minimum staffing ratios, fully funded benefits and workplace protections.
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