Kaiser Mental Health Workers Launch Strike in Southern California, Citing Overwhelming Workloads and Staffing Shortages

Over 2,400 Kaiser Permanente psychologists, therapists, and social workers, as well as other mental health professionals in Southern California, began an open-ended walkout Monday. Their union cited increased workloads and shortages of staff that have led to a “substandard system” of care.

 

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (which represents the employees) is currently negotiating a new contract with the Oakland-based giant in the healthcare industry. The strikers are demanding that Kaiser hires more staff to relieve the strain on its current staff.

 

Kaiser stated in a Monday statement that the union had “slow-walked” negotiations despite the firm proposals put forward by the healthcare provider. The statement also said that the union’s “proposals have been overreaching, unreasonable and unreasonable”.

 

Outside Kaiser facilities in Los Angeles and Orange counties, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Bernardino counties, picket lines were set up.

 

Antonia Rodarte is a marriage and family therapist at Kaiser. She traveled to LA with 35 of her colleagues from Bakersfield in California for the work action.

 

 

We are seeing burnout amongst our colleagues increase. People are quitting. “They can’t keep pace with the workload,” Rodarte said. “Kaiser puts more emphasis on the number of patients seen than the quality of care.”

 

Natalie Espinoza is a psychiatric counselor who says that Kaiser facilities in Southern California are “understaffed” and are overworked. She sees 10 to 12 patients per day and works until lunchtime.

 

After rejecting Kaiser’s terms, workers prepared for the strike on the weekend.

 

Kaiser said that the walkout was “entirely unnecessary” and claimed the union wants more money to pay therapists for spending less time with patients.

 

The union proposes that full-time therapists reduce the time spent not seeing patients by nearly half – or at least 19 hours per week. Kaiser stated that this was unacceptable, and would reduce access to mental health appointments for our patients.

 

 

This is the second strike of Kaiser therapists within two years. Kaiser agreed to give mental health workers in Northern California more time in 2022 for tasks that couldn’t be completed during appointments. They also increased staffing at their mental health clinics and provided more services.

 

Maria Elena Durazo (a Democratic State Senator from California) who joined the LA picket lines said that Monday’s strikers also want to see those same gains made for Southern California workers.

 

These workers are saying: “Hey, hold on a second. You do it in Northern California. What about people in Southern California? Durazo asked, “Don’t we deserve to have the same working conditions?”

 

Kaiser informed patients that their appointments may be affected by a strike. The statement stated that patients will be able to see another licensed, highly qualified therapist if their usual provider is on strike.