Western Reader
75,000 healthcare workers from Kaiser Permanente have gone on strike to protest. This historic event, which occurred on October 4, 2023, is now the largest healthcare strike in the United States.
The strike, which took place across California, Virginia, and three other states, was sparked by staffing shortages that have been plaguing the healthcare system.
The workers involved in this massive walkout included nurses, technicians, pharmacists, and support staff, all of whom play crucial roles in our healthcare system.
BREAKING: 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers just walked out in the LARGEST EVER American healthcare strike, demanding safer working conditions & higher pay. #SolidaritySeason
IT’S OFFICIAL: 2023 has now produced the most worker strikes in FOUR DECADES. 🔥
pic.twitter.com/kYzvb4rSDd— Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸 (@NickKnudsenUS) October 4, 2023
These brave individuals are not only striking due to staffing shortages but also demanding wage increases, a nationwide minimum wage, health benefits, retirement plans, and tuition assistance programs.
Their demands reflect the increasing dissatisfaction within the healthcare sector as professionals face heavier workloads and diminishing resources.
Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest insurers and healthcare system operators in the country, is at the center of this storm. With 39 hospitals nationwide, the non-profit company based in Oakland, California, provides health coverage for nearly 13 million people.
The strike undoubtedly disrupted their operations, impacting the clinics and hospitals they run or contract with for providing care.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, representing approximately 85,000 of the health system’s employees nationally, authorized the strike. It lasted for three days in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, and one day in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
This coordinated action highlights the seriousness of the issues faced by these healthcare workers.
BIG VICTORY: New York Judge Strikes Down Gov. Hochul’s Healthcare Worker Vax Mandate
Judge Neri effectively said, “You have no standing to mandate this injection on health care workers.”
The jabs don’t affect transmission. For that reason, he said there was no justification. pic.twitter.com/eCd47FlBcz
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) January 17, 2023
This strike is not just a labor dispute; it is a plea for assistance from those on the front lines of our healthcare system. It calls for addressing the systemic issues that have led to this unprecedented situation.
As a nation, we must listen to this call and work towards creating a healthcare system that values its workers and provides them with the necessary resources to carry out their jobs effectively.
The historic strike by 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers serves as a wake-up call for all of us. It emphasizes the urgent need for reforms in our healthcare system, particularly in terms of staffing and wages.
As we move forward, it is crucial that we listen to these healthcare professionals and take decisive action to address their concerns. Only then can we ensure the continued delivery of quality healthcare for all Americans.
This article appeared in TheDailyBeat and has been published here with permission.
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