Healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente are preparing to escalate their labor dispute in what could become the largest healthcare strike in the nation.

Unions representing thousands of nurses, pharmacy, and laboratory workers are demanding better wages, improved workplace safety, and solutions to chronic understaffing. The United Nurses Associations and United Food and Commercial Workers claim Kaiser has been unresponsive during negotiations, with talks stalling since December 2025.

The scale of the potential strike is massive - approximately 31,000 employees in California and Hawaii have already walked off the job, with an additional 3,000 workers set to join the protest. At the heart of the dispute is a significant wage increase request, with unions seeking $3 billion in compensation adjustments compared to Kaiser’s proposed $1 billion.

Kaiser Permanente argues that the union’s demands would make healthcare less affordable for patients and have broad economic implications. However, the unions point out that Kaiser has over $66 billion in unrestricted reserves, challenging the company’s financial claims.

One striking nurse, Geraldine Dornio, summarized the workers’ frustration by stating that “Kaiser has ghosted us,” highlighting the perceived lack of meaningful communication during negotiations.

The company maintains that the strike is “unnecessary and disruptive,” but workers remain committed to fighting for fair compensation and improved working conditions. As negotiations continue, the potential impact on patient care and healthcare delivery remains a critical concern for both workers and the communities they serve.