SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 15 — About 31,000 registered nurses and other front-line employees of Kaiser Permanente began a five-day strike Tuesday across multiple U.S. states, nurses strike over pay demanding higher wages and improved staffing levels.

The walkout affects roughly 500 Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical offices in California, Hawaii, and Oregon. Union leaders called it the largest strike in the 50-year history of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). They said the number of participants could rise to nearly 46,000 workers if additional members join in the coming days.

Workers on the picket lines include registered nurses, pharmacists, midwives, and rehabilitation therapists. They say the strike is a response to staffing shortages and pay that has not kept pace with rising costs of living.

“We are here because we are short-staffed and underpaid. Patients deserve better, and so do we,” said one nurse outside the Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center on Tuesday.

Workers seek 25% wage hike

Union representatives are demanding a 25% wage increase over four years, saying current pay rates lag at least 7% behind industry peers. They argue that better compensation and staffing levels are essential to maintaining patient care standards and preventing employee burnout.

Kaiser Permanente , based in Oakland, California, nurses strike over pay has countered with an offer of a 21.5% wage increase over the same period. The company said its unionized employees already earn, on average, 16% more than comparable health care workers at other organizations.

Meeting the union’s full demand, the company said, would require raising prices for patients and insurance holders.

Hospitals remain open

Kaiser Permanente said all hospitals and clinics will stay open during the nurses strike over pay . Some elective surgeries and in-person appointments will be postponed or shifted to virtual consultations to reduce disruptions.

In a statement, the company said it respects the workers’ right to strike but remains committed to reaching an agreement that “balances fair pay with long-term affordability for members.”

Health care services continued across the affected regions on Tuesday, though patients reported longer wait times at several facilities.

Background on Kaiser Permanente

It is one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the United States, serving 12.6 million members through 600 medical offices and 40 hospitals. The organization employs more than 300,000 health workers, including about 24,000 physicians, primarily across western states.

This strike follows months of negotiations between the company and union leaders over contract renewals. The last major labor action at Kaiser Permanente took place in 2023, when 75,000 employees staged a three-day strike over similar issues.

Union officials say this year’s action aims to send a stronger message about the growing strain on health care professionals.

“Our members have been on the front lines through the pandemic and beyond,” a union spokesperson said. “They are asking for fair compensation and safe staffing — nothing more, nothing less.”

Negotiations between Kaiser Permanente and union representatives are expected to continue during the strike.

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