BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — More than 31,000 registered nurses and healthcare workers have gone on strike against Kaiser Permanente, affecting facilities across California and Hawaii, including Kern County.
The strike follows seven months of negotiations, with unions challenging what Kaiser describes as a “generous offer.”
Camille Applin-Jones, senior vice president for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, stated, “We’ve come to the table in very good faith to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement for our nurses and our other healthcare professionals.”
She highlighted that the offer includes a 21.5% increase, which she called “historic in healthcare,” with potential increases up to 30% for some nurses over the contract’s first two years.
However, union representatives argue the strike is about more than wages…