Strike involving more than 30,000 Kaiser healthcare workers ends with ‘new momentum,’ union says 

Video above: KTLA’s coverage of the Kaiser Permanente strike from Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025.

The five-day strike involving tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers has ended, and the union representing the workers says there is now “new momentum” in negotiations.  

The strike began this past Tuesday at more than 500 Kaiser facilities across the West Coast, with employees taking to picket lines in protest of what United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) officials alleged were “unsafe staffing, stagnant wages and deteriorating patient care conditions.” 

Of the 46,000 striking union members, more than 31,000 were based in California – the other striking workers were mainly concentrated in Hawaii and Oregon. They included registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians and other specialty health care professionals. 

Kaiser Permanente officials put out a statement regarding the walkout on Tuesday morning, calling it “unnecessary and disruptive” while countering that they had made a “strong, comprehensive offer” to the union.

Healthcare workers didn’t accept the offer, however, and after five days of striking, they began heading back to work on Sunday. According to a statement issued by UNAC/UHCP, the message behind the “historic” walkout was clear.

“Caregivers are united, determined and backed by a growing movement for safe staffing and fair contracts,” the union said.  

The union cited the Joint Commission’s new standards on medical facility staffing that was released during the strike as a major boost for their mission. The new standards will “reshape the landscape of contract negotiations moving forward,” UNAC/UHCP says.  

“The Joint Commission has finally said what nurses have known all along: unsafe staffing is unsafe care,” said union president and registered nurse Charmaine S. Morales. “Employers like Kaiser can no longer treat staffing like a budget line. It’s now a national patient safety mandate, and UNAC/UHCP will make sure it’s enforced.” 

Union representatives are expected to meet with Kaiser officials for bargaining later this month.

“This strike may be over, but the fight for patient safety is not,” the union’s statement concluded. “Caregivers are returning to work united, energized and ready to keep up the pressure for a fair contract that puts patients first.”  

In a statement to KTLA, Kaiser Permanente representatives said they welcome back the union employees and are continuing to focus on “the continued delivery of high-quality care.”

The healthcare giant also gave special thanks to the thousands of workers who stepped in to help during the strike while turning towards the future negotiations.

“Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance have jointly agreed to resume bargaining on October 22–23. The focus will be on economic issues,” Kaiser Permanente’s statement reads. “While the Alliance has publicly emphasized staffing and other concerns, wages are the reason for the strike and the primary issue in negotiations. We recognize our employees’ hard work and have offered a strong contract proposal that includes 21.5% in total base wage increases over four years, and enhances their high-value medical plans and retiree benefits.”

“At a time when the cost of health care continues to go up steeply, and millions of Americans are having to make the difficult choice to go without coverage, it’s critical that we keep quality, accessible health care coverage affordable – while attracting and retaining top talent and keeping Kaiser Permanente a great place to work and receive care,” the statement continues. “Our offer does all this.”