Thousands of Kaiser Permanent nurses and health care professionals started a five -day strike on 14 October. Salem and all over Oregon and southwestern Washington.
About 4,000 Kaiser Permanente plans to strike from October 7th. Until 7 p.m. October 19 They join thousands of other unions connected by Kaiser employees in Hawaii and California, whose union treaties have also expired.
By 8 o’clock in the morning, more than 50 people spread through the Lancaster Drive to start Strike Salem.
Members wore red clothes as the subject of the day: “Red because we are fed up!” They woke up in various signs of English and Spanish: “Care are not a corporation”, “safe staff = safe patients”, “Patients whose profit”, “our patients and our future” and “heroes are treated as zeros”.
Local organizers estimate that more than 200 district members indicated that they would join the North Lancaster picket.
About 4,000 employees from four different units, including registered nurses, laboratory specialists, social workers, cancer consultants, audiologists, physiotherapists, mental health therapy and other professional staff, represent about 4,000 employees.
The Union did not reach an agreement with Kaiser Permanent on a new contract after its latest contract expired on 30 September.
Lindsay Laux-Pittman, on the right, and Martha Witt has signs on October 14, picket Kaiser Permanent, Lancaster Drive, when employees try to strike. They both worked for Kaiser for 15 and 8 years, respectively.
OFNHP is part of the Alliance of Health Care Union, which represents 62,000 Kaiser health workers from 23 local unions.
“No one who devotes his life to patients never wants to go from work, but Kaizer has left us no choice,” said Sarina Roher, President of OFNHP. Rosler said the Union had asked for “real decisions” to crisis, fair salary and voice as supervised.
Roher said the strike is not only a salary, but also about respect, security and the future of care in the northwest.
“Kaiser has to fulfill a moment. Our health care professionals stand up because patients deserve better. Kaiser needs to intensify and be a promised partner in our communities, not a corporation that submits margins before the mission,” Roher added.
Kaiser Permanente employees have signs of picket for Kaiser Permanent for Lancaster Drive, as employees on October 14th.
Six picket lines were set up in Oregon and Southwest Washington offices. Four in Oregon is:
-
Kaiser Westside Medical Center – 2875 No Stuckki Ave., Hillsboro
-
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center – 10180 SE SUNNYSIDE RAD, CLACKAM
-
Interstate Medical Bureau – Central – 3500 N. Interstate Ave., Portland
-
Kaiser North Lancaster, 2400 Lancaster Drive No, Saem.
Jennifer Meltzer has a sign of picket because employees on October 14th. In Lancaster Drive, he struck the Kaiser Permanent. Meltzer worked in Salem for 31 years at Kaiser Permanent.
Jennifer Meltzer, who participated in the Lancaster Drive picket, worked for 31 years in Kaiser Permanent Salem.
“Health care is often a cycle, and we are currently a bad cycle,” Meltzer said.
She said there was no “serious effort” to deal with issues that are important to members during the negotiation sessions in the last six months.
Meltzer said Kaiser had a “real problem” with recruitment and maintenance staff.
“I’ve been here for 31 years and I believe in Kaiser,” Meltzer said. “I want to see the next time. I want to be here long enough to teach my substitute that will also want to work Kaiser for 30 years.”
Kaiser Permanent said hospitals, medical and dental offices and pharmacies would remain open at a strike and said members of the same day care for members would be able to purchase members through their program for mobile members. Some meetings will be transferred to virtual care or redesign, according to a press release.
The Kaiser also visits 7,600 nurses, doctors and other employees working during the strike, and 1000 current employees were voluntarily assigned to work in the strike places, in a statement.
“A strike is not required when there is a generous offer on the table,” the report said. Kaiser officials said she offered a 21.5% increase and indicated the Alliance’s 25% demand as “a figure from a step with today’s economic reality and increasing health care costs.”
Dianne Lugo includes the issues of Oregon legislator and property. Reach her by email. By email dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or xx @Dianneneugo or Bluesky @Diannenelugo.bsky.social;
This article initially appeared in Salem Stateman Journal: Strifting Kaiser Permanent staff holding picket in Lancaster Saleme