This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA.
After months of striking, mental health workers in Kaiser Southern California ended their fight with some positive news. Their efforts, which lasted 196 days, survived through the cold of winter and terrible LA fires, and led to a 20% raise over 4 years alongside a $2500 signing bonus. They also gained 5 hours of paid prep time – not too far from their initial demand of 7 hours of prep time – which many workers saw as crucial for attending to patients’ needs. Additionally, the new contract has an improved pension plan, another major concern the strikers were fighting for.
But there were still areas which were left unaddressed. Even with the gains, Southern California mental health workers still do not have equivalent benefits to their Northern California counterparts. And Kaiser didn’t give any guarantees in the contract that they would be addressing chronic understaffing – and we know too well that if it is only up to them, they won’t.
The fact that strikers did not win all of their demands means that there is the possibility of more fights to come, but this contract is also a reminder for all Kaiser and healthcare workers that it is possible to organize and win improvements in our workplace. Solidarity is the key!
Click here to read the article printed in the 06-04-25 Healthcare Newsletter
