Kaiser Permanente Faces Strike by 2,400 Mental Health Workers

Workers demand better staffing, pay, and conditions amid ongoing contract disputes with the healthcare giant.

The strike is set to begin Monday, involving psychologists, therapists, and other mental health professionals across Southern California.
Union representatives claim Kaiser Permanente's mental health care system is understaffed, leading to inadequate patient care and worker burnout.
Kaiser has invested over $1 billion since 2020 to improve mental health services, but union officials argue that issues persist, particularly in Southern California.
Negotiations have stalled, with Kaiser accusing the union of delaying talks, while the union seeks parity with Northern California workers' agreements.
Kaiser has proposed an 18% wage increase over four years and plans to maintain patient care during the strike by utilizing its extensive network.