More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente workers strike in California and Hawaii over staffing and pay

More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers in California and Hawaii began an open-ended strike on January 26, 2026, escalating a labor dispute centered on staffing levels, compensation, and patient-care concerns. The walkout includes a broad range of clinicians and staff represented by UNAC/UHCP, including nurses and other health professionals, and unions say it is driven by what they describe as unfair labor practices and prolonged bargaining frustration. ([sfchronicle.com](https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/kaiser-workers-strike-21312742.php?utm_source=openai))

Union leaders argue that chronic understaffing and retention challenges are creating unsafe workloads and delaying care, and they want stronger staffing commitments alongside wage increases. Kaiser, for its part, has said it intends to keep facilities operating and has disputed key union claims, while pointing to its own wage proposals and the need to maintain continuity of service for patients. ([sfchronicle.com](https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/kaiser-workers-strike-21312742.php?utm_source=openai))

What workers are demanding

At the heart of the dispute are arguments about what “safe staffing” means in practice and how quickly Kaiser should scale hiring to match demand. Workers say better recruitment and retention, clearer workload standards, and stronger protections around working conditions are necessary to prevent burnout and reduce the risk of errors. Compensation is also central: unions have framed the strike as a push for raises that keep pace with cost-of-living pressures and the intensity of clinical work. ([sfchronicle.com](https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/kaiser-workers-strike-21312742.php?utm_source=openai))

What patients should watch for

• Potential delays for non-urgent appointments and elective procedures
• Longer waits in some clinics depending on staffing coverage
• Service updates from local Kaiser facilities as negotiations continue

The strike arrives during a period when hospitals and health systems nationwide are still grappling with workforce stress and recruitment challenges. The outcome at Kaiser is likely to be watched closely by other large systems facing similar staffing and labor pressures.