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On Monday, 35,000 workers will begin an indefinite strike at Kaiser Permanente across multiple states. These union workers have been bargaining with Kaiser over staffing levels, wages, and working conditions as members of the Alliance of Healthcare Unions, 3,400 of which are in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Even more Alliance represented union locals have announced strikes since the original notification, as well as other unaffiliated unions such as the Guild for Professional Pharmacists.

“All Kaiser patients and employees are being affected by the staffing crisis, and Kaiser has offered low

Nearly 3,400 workers from Kaiser Permanente in Oregon and Southwest Washington formally announced that they will be walking out on strike due to the harmful proposals put forward by Kaiser leadership during union contract negotiations. This announcement means that the union, the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP, AFT Local 5017) will be putting in a ten day notice with Kaiser, and unless negotiations improve, workers will strike at 6:00 a.m. on November 15th. They will be joined by a total of 32,000 other Kaiser workers striking around the same date, and an additional

Winning a fair contract is hard. Sustaining that contract is hard. That contract is an organic document that demands sacrifice and consistency, it demands care, purpose, and action over a long period of time. A very long period of time!

Kaiser publicly praised us as heroic and essential in the early days of the COVID pandemic, but today we are called heretics not heroes for simply asking for a fair and equitable contract.

Staffing shortages, unsustainable wage structures, economic anxiety, less benefits, unfair labor practices – that is what Kaiser is offering its employees today.

Kaiser

Winning a fair contract is hard. Sustaining that contract is hard. That contract is an organic document that demands sacrifice and consistency, it demands care, purpose, and action over a long period of time. A very long period of time!

Kaiser publicly praised us as heroic and essential in the early days of the COVID pandemic, but today we are called heretics not heroes for simply asking for a fair and equitable contract.

Staffing shortages, unsustainable wage structures, economic anxiety, less benefits, unfair labor practices – that is what Kaiser is offering its employees today.

Kaiser

Nearly 3,400 workers from Kaiser Permanente in Oregon have voted to authorize a strike. With a staggering 90% participation rate, the vote count was to strike by 96%, meaning of those who voted, 96% voted Yes. This is an unprecedented strike authorization vote, showing total unity amongst Kaiser workers to stage a strike over issues like safe staffing, patient care, and a fair contract.

“Our members turned out in record numbers to say that they are willing to do what it takes to save patient care in Oregon,” says Jodi Barschow, a Kaiser Sunnyside RN and President of the Oregon Federation of

Nearly 3,400 workers began a strike authorization vote last night that will determine whether or not one of the biggest healthcare strikes in Oregon’s history takes place in the coming weeks. This strike authorization vote has come after months of dangerous or nonexistent proposals from Kaiser Permanente management, including a “two-tier” compensation proposal that would damage patient care in the future. 

“Kaiser claims that we are paid above market rate, but this is absolutely false,” says Jodi Barschow, a Kaiser Sunnyside RN and President of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health

After months of negotiations and low wage proposals that workers say would accelerate the staffing crisis, union workers are voting on whether or not to authorize a strike. 

PORTLAND, Ore.— The staff at Kaiser Permanente represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP) will join members of several other unions across the country in voting to authorize a strike. Negotiations both at the local level and at the national level as a part of the 21-union Alliance of Healthcare Unions, have started to break down as Kaiser offers low 1% hourly wage raises and a two-tiered

PeaceHealth Strike FAQ

What is a strike exactly?

When bargaining fails to result in a contract we can be proud of, a strike is our last option where union workers, together, refuse to go to work, shifting the balance of power and showing the employer how essential we are.

When would a strike occur?

A strike can only occur after the contracts have expired, and all of them will expire by September 30th.

How much notice do we have to give to the employer?

Ten days.

How is a strike determined?

Only a vote of the OFNHP membership would determine whether or not we go on strike

OFNHP will also be holding a dial-in tele-town hall event on July 1st from 6:00-7:30pm where I will present our progress at the national table, where we are bargaining with Kaiser Permanente as part of the 20 union Alliance, as well as answer questions for those interested in learning more.

Click Here to Register for the Tele-Town Hall