Thousands of kaiser permanente nurses and health care workers in California and Hawaii are preparing to strike starting Monday, January 26, 2026, as part of a 31,000-person unfair labor practices strike.The strike is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m.local time.
Union Demands and allegations
Members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) represent registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehabilitation therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians, and other specialty health care professionals. The union alleges that kaiser Permanente has committed unfair labor practices and is refusing to bargain in good faith regarding crucial issues.
“We’re not going on strike to make noise,” said Charmaine S. Morales, RN, president of UNAC/UHCP. “We’re striking because Kaiser has committed serious unfair labor practices and because Kaiser refuses to bargain in good faith over staffing that protects patients, workload standards that stop moral injury and the respect and dignity that Kaiser caregivers have been denied for far too long.”
The union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), claiming Kaiser walked away from the bargaining table in December and bypassed the agreed-upon national bargaining process. Negotiations had been ongoing since May 2025. National Labor Relations Board
Workers on picket lines will focus on concerns about what they describe as a growing crisis stemming from Kaiser’s alleged failure to invest in safe staffing levels, timely access to quality care, and fair wages for frontline caregivers.
Strike Locations
Picket lines will be established at Kaiser hospitals and clinics throughout California – in Northern california,Central California,Riverside,San Bernardino,and San Diego counties – as well as in Hawaii.
Specific locations in Orange and Los Angeles counties include:
- Anaheim medical Center, 3440 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim
- downey Medical Center, 9333 imperial Highway, Downey
- South Bay Medical Center, 25825 Vermont Ave., Harbor City
- Los Angeles Medical Center, 4867 Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood, Los Angeles
- West Los Angeles Medical Center, 6041 Cadillac Ave., Mid-city, Los angeles
- Baldwin Park Medical Center, 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd., Baldwin Park
- panorama City Medical Center, 13651 Willard St., Panorama City
- Woodland Hills Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Ave., woodland Hills
Kaiser Permanente‘s Response
Kaiser Permanente released a statement indicating it has contingency plans to ensure continued care for its members and patients. The organization stated it has proposed a 21.5% wage increase – its strongest national bargaining offer to date – and is prepared to finalize local agreements.
“Our focus remains on reaching agreements that recognize the vital contributions of our employees while ensuring excellent, affordable care.We have proposed 21.5% wage increases — our strongest national bargaining offer ever — and we are prepared to close agreements at local tables now. Employees deserve their raises and patients deserve our full attention, not prolonged disputes,” the statement reads.
Kaiser Permanente has posted strike guidance for its members on its website: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/alerts/p2/strike-notice-unac-uhcp
According to Kaiser, hospitals and medical offices will remain open during the strike, though some pharmacies may close. The organization has “robust plans” in place to maintain care, and patients with scheduled appointments are advised not to cancel or reschedule, as they will be contacted if rescheduling is necessary.
