A Lifeline Under Threat: The Attack on Medication Abortion By Mail
On May 4, the U.S. Supreme Court restored temporary, nationwide access to the abortion pill mifepristone by mail. Amidst escalating threats to abortion access, the order would allow those seeking abortions to obtain the pill without an in-person visit to the doctor. The restoration comes days after a federal appeals court sided with the State of Louisiana […]
Kaiser Workers Continue the Fight For Better Conditions!
UNAC/UHCP — the union representing various Kaiser workers such as rehabilitation therapists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and physical therapists — has been on strike since January 26. The strike has continued with a strong presence. At the Oakland facility, there were pickets on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with music, chants, and high energy. In […]
Kaiser Serves up Layoffs and Junk Food
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Kaiser announced last week layoffs throughout the food service department at Oakland and other Kaiser campuses across California. Although Kaiser claims it will offer a period of continued salary and benefits to laid-off workers, this will […]
A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing at AHS
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Remember those emails we got from a random security company called Arctic Wolf? Many of us reported these malicious looking emails to our managers and flagged them as phishing attempts. Turns out they were legit. So […]
Strike Underway at Kaiser
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Yesterday, Kaiser workers organized in the United Nurses Associations of California (UNAC) started a strike against Kaiser after their contract expired on September 30th. Like almost everyone working in healthcare, they are fighting for wage increases […]
Things Heating Up at Kaiser?
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. On Tuesday, September 23rd, there was an informational picket at Kaiser Oakland hosted by CNA. Similar actions were taken that day at different facilities across California, such as Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Leandro. […]
Artificial Intelligence Monitoring Workers at AHS
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. At Highland this month, workers are all finishing up their annual mandated online competencies. There was one new slide this year, detailing the use of artificial intelligence in worker surveillance at Alameda Health System. According to […]
JCAHO: Just Continue All Hospital Operations
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. We all know this is not what that acronym stands for, but we also know that management at Kaiser loves to move differently when they are expecting the accredited survey personnel to come by and evaluate […]
France: What Lies Behind the Surge in Social Unrest?
From a correspondent in France On Wednesday, September 10, and then again on Thursday, September 18, France experienced two days of major social unrest against the budget cuts announced for 2026. Between recurring political crises, worsening inequalities, and growing fears of being dragged into a “real” war, it is in fact a deeper anger that […]
We Run the Hospital – Not ICE!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Last week in Palo Alto, a woman collapsed during an ICE arrest and was taken to Stanford Hospital. Despite having a serious medical condition, agents allowed only a brief family visit and did not give information […]
Kaiser San Rafael Nurses Protest Potential Layoffs
On August 21st, nurses at the Kaiser San Rafael facility held a one-day protest in response to the looming threat of 41 nursing positions being eliminated this October. These layoffs, if carried out, would not only affect the workers who lose their jobs, but also those who remain—forcing them to shoulder an even greater burden […]
Seven Month Delay in Certification Pay
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Over a year ago, in July of 2024, Alameda Health System nurses voted to approve a new contract that includes an additional 3% compensation for holding a specialty certification. The contract states that the new pay […]
ICE: Hands Off Our Patients
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Last week, Highland workers organized an in-person know your rights training for how to respond to ICE if they show up to the hospital. Lawyers taught workers a lot over their lunch break, here are some […]
Highland Management is Out Of Touch
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. The Highland cafeteria self checkout is now up and running, but it doesn’t seem to be making the cafeteria run any more efficiently. There’s still a cashier on staff – which is helpful for those paying […]
Happy Nurses Week!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. It’s that time of year again when nurses everywhere are honored by their workplaces with tokens of appreciation. For all your hard work and dedication, you might get a keychain or a pen, or a “thank […]
Kaiser: National Expansion = Record Profits
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Last month, Kaiser announced their 2024 financial results, including $12.9 billion dollars in profits! This was a 300% increase in their profits compared to 2023. More than half of these new profits were from new healthcare […]
Undocumented and Avoiding Healthcare
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. It is becoming increasingly clear that more undocumented people in the Bay Area (and across the nation) are avoiding healthcare out of fear that they will have to share their immigration status to receive care, and […]
3,000 Voices Ignored: AHS Continues Layoffs
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Alameda Health System is still planning to lay off cashiers at Highland and Fairmont, despite a huge showing of support for these workers through a petition that circulated the hospital and received over 3,000 signatures. Management […]
We Stand Against Attacks on Trans People!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Healthcare workers around the country are expressing outrage over the Trump administration’s attacks on the health and safety of transgender people. In the last month, Trump signed an executive order barring institutions from receiving federal funding […]
Attacks on the Horizon at Kaiser
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Once again an attack on Kaiser workers is on the horizon. At Kaiser Vacaville and Vallejo, as well as other facilities, Kaiser management is cutting security guards and other similar contractor positions, a total of 300 […]
We Want Cashiers, Not Kiosks!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. AHS Food and Nutrition management is considering replacing cashiers in our cafeterias at Highland and other facilities with self-serve kiosks. This plan not only poses significant challenges—like the fact that many fresh prepared foods don’t scan […]
Cancel and Lie? It’s the Same Story
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. In 2022, when Northern California Kaiser mental health workers went on strike for 10 weeks, Kaiser publicly claimed they were finding alternative providers. They did this because even during a strike, Kaiser is required by California […]
AHS Workers Support Divestment
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Over 700 AHS workers have signed a petition calling for an ethical investment policy, representing nearly 15% of AHS employees. These workers are standing up to demand that their retirement funds no longer support weapons manufacturers […]
“Pro-life” policy kills
The infant death rate has increased by 7% across the U.S. since the Supreme Court passed the Dobbs decision, which allowed states to restrict abortion access and reproductive care. The same pediatric study found the mortality rate increased by 10% for infants born with health complications. This is just one study in a growing field […]
KP People Pulse & Elections: How Do Things Change?
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. KP People Pulse took place last month and the results are being gathered. In certain ways, People Pulse is like the election we just went through – it is framed as an opportunity to give feedback […]
E-Learning Modules Are Paid Hours!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. For most healthcare workers, every time we log into our e-learning portal there is a new mandatory lesson to complete. From workplace violence prevention to hazardous material safety, the list of e-learnings can seem endless. Expecting […]
IVF Fluid Shortage: Profit Over Patients
Because of the storms on the East Coast, we’ve been facing a huge shortage of IV fluids. These are only the most basic essentials for any hospital – IV fluids help resuscitate patients and provide hydration for patients who can’t consume enough water. They’re also essential for many procedures. We live on the other side […]
Sign the Petition: AHS Must Divest!
On October 8th, dozens of healthcare workers and community members gathered for a rally outside Highland Hospital to recognize the one year anniversary of the assault on Gaza, and the ongoing genocide in the region. Speakers included Highland physicians, nurse midwives, therapists, and nurses. Hospital workers circulated a petition demanding that Alameda Health System develop […]
Mental Health is a Struggle at Kaiser
Receiving mental health services at Kaiser can be a significant struggle. Due to chronic short staffing, wait times for patient appointments can stretch to three months! Ironically, even Kaiser employees face these long waits. Kaiser has increasingly encouraged group therapy while patients await their one-on-one appointments, or they outsource patients to other providers when they […]
KP People Pulse: Pretending to Care
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Every year, when People Pulse comes around, we know what’s coming—constant reminders to fill out our forms so management can gather feedback. Surprisingly or not, the atmosphere at work becomes friendlier, with managers and administration putting […]
Staff Up to Prevent Pressure Injuries
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. At Highland recently, management mandated that all nursing staff attend a class on preventing HAPI’s, also known as “Healthcare Associated Pressure Injuries” or bedsores. Hospitals are not reimbursed for pressure injuries that develop during hospitalization, so […]
Everybody Deserves Rest!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Working at a hospital, where the short-staffing crisis is an everyday reality, takes a toll on your body. It’s hard not to think about the years remaining until retirement becomes a reality. However, with inflation driving […]
Capitalism Pushes Workers and Patients to the Brink
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. It takes personal strength and dedication to work in a hospital, caring for people who are suffering through what are often the worst days of their lives. In a normal shift, a nurse might comfort a […]
AHS’s Neglect Costs Patients Their Appetites
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Inpatient meals have been getting served on disposable takeout containers at Highland for the last few weeks. No warmed plates means food is cold, soggy, and not a reflection of the food that patients usually like. […]
State Supreme Court Rules Against Alameda Health System Workers
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. In a unanimous ruling on August 15th, the California Supreme Court found that public healthcare workers are not protected by the same labor laws as employees of private healthcare systems. The case (Stone vs Alameda Health […]
Kaiser: Morning Confusion
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Last Wednesday Kaiser Oakland implemented a new policy. Now, before 8am, workers have to enter the hospital for a shift by badging in to the main entrance on MacArthur, as opposed to the usual normal door […]
Criminalizing Mask Wearing Sets Dangerous Precedent as COVID Rises
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Last week legislators in Nassau County, New York approved a bill banning masks in public spaces, saying “concealing your identity” by wearing a mask is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a year of jail […]
Missing Supplies Risk Patients’ Lives
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. When lives are at stake, every second counts as hospital staff reach for supplies they need to provide patient care. Nurses and other staff depend on supply rooms being well-stocked so they can focus on their […]
CrowdStrike Chaos
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. On July 19, cybersecurity company CrowdStrike released buggy software that caused many computers internationally that run on the Microsoft Windows operating system to crash. The outage impacted millions of computers across the world and had varying […]
“On Call” Doesn’t Mean at Management’s Beck and Call
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Kaiser expects a lot from its on call workers – but the obligation seems to only go one way. The most recent SEIU-UHW contract, for example, allows managers to require on calls give up to 10 […]
What Do Managers Even Do?
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Every day in the hospital, we see hundreds of workers caring for patients, cooking their meals, cleaning their rooms, and keeping us all safe. We work together, every day and night of the year, using our […]
TA Reached at AHS
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. The SEIU 1021 bargaining team has reached a tentative agreement (TA) with management, and voting takes place this week to ratify the contract. Looking through the 161 page agreement can be a bit confusing – all […]
COVID Cases on the Rise…
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. COVID cases are on the rise again in the Bay Area and many of us probably know of someone who has gotten it again in the past few weeks. While luckily this hasn’t translated to a […]
Short Staffing Tragedy
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. A few days ago at Kaiser Vallejo, a man lost his life while waiting in the emergency room. He arrived in critical condition and needed urgent care. However, due to short staffing, he waited for 8 […]
Highland ICU Nurses Win Victory in Firing Bad Manager
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Last year, Highland Hospital hired a temporary manager to fill the vacant leadership role in the ICU. Nurses on the unit immediately found the new manager to be an incompetent bully, who flaunted his many years […]
Healthcare Workers Say: No Pride in Genocide!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Over the Pride weekend, healthcare workers marched together Friday at Trans March to show solidarity with Palestinians, using the demonstration as an opportunity to bring attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Gaza only has one […]
It’s Always the Workers Who Sacrifice
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. Governor Newsom finally approved a new budget for California’s 2024-25 fiscal year last week. The original budget plan featured state funding for minimum wage increases for healthcare workers starting on July 1st. The wage increases are […]
From Newark to Palestine: Lessons from the Rutgers-Newark Solidarity Encampment
Since October 7, by even the most conservative estimates, the Israeli state has killed over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza. The United States funds this genocide, sending billions of dollars annually to Israel in money and weapons. When students at Columbia University demonstrated their opposition to the genocide by forming an encampment, they were met with […]
Kaiser Residents & Fellows Unionize – Cheers to the Next Steps!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. There’s something to celebrate at Kaiser Permanente Northern California: residents and fellow physicians have unionized, and joined Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU). Kaiser is one of the largest healthcare providers in the state, and the […]
Ready to Strike But… We Need More Transparency!
This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA. At Highland, it’s no secret that our wages aren’t keeping up with inflation, we’re critically understaffed, and management is making our jobs harder every day. We depend on our union representatives to bring our concerns to […]