Healthcare staff strike in front of Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, as greater than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare staff go on strike from October 4 to 7 across america, in Los Angeles, California, October 4, 2023.
Aude Guerrucci | Reuters
Greater than 85,000 medical experts reached a tentative labor agreement with Kaiser Permanente on Friday that can avoid more strikes after the Biden administration intervened within the negotiations.
President Joe Biden praised the medical experts and reiterated his support for organized labor in an announcement Friday.
“Health care staff and support staff kept our hospitals – and our nation– going through the dark months of the pandemic,” Biden said in an announcement Friday. “That they had our backs during certainly one of our nation’s hardest times. We must proceed to have theirs.”
“I at all times say that collective bargaining works,” Biden said. “It really works for UPS drivers and dock staff, writers, and hundreds of thousands of American staff who exercise their right to take part in a union.”
Biden has touted himself as probably the most pro-union president in American history. He recently joined the picket line in Detroit to support the United Auto Employees of their strike against Ford Motor, General Motors and Stellantis.
Tens of 1000’s of medical experts walked out of Kaiser hospitals and facilities last week to protest short staffing and demand higher pay. The strike lasted three days in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state. The walkout was said to be the biggest health-care employee strike in U.S. history.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions had threatened additional strikes if management didn’t meet their demands, particularly over short staffing and the outsourcing of jobs.
Julie Su, acting labor secretary, arrives to testify through the House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing titled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Labor,” in Rayburn Constructing on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
The union coalition and Kaiser executives met for bargaining sessions this week. The perimeters reached a tentative labor contract to avoid further strikes after the intervention of acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.
The agreement features a 21% pay hike over 4 years, a minimum wage of $25 in California and $23 in other states, protections against outsourcing, and diverse investments to deal with short staffing.
Su flew to California on Thursday evening to assist facilitate the deal, in accordance with the union coalition. Sarah Levesque, secretary-treasurer of OPEIU Local 2, said Su was instrumental in brokering the deal.
“We’re incredibly grateful to acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su and the Biden administration for supporting staff’ right to collective bargaining,” Levesque said.
Biden also praised Su’s role, “She continues to play an integral role helping my administration and staff across this country construct an economy that works for everybody,” the president said.
