Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Nearly 4,000 Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland health care workers overwhelmingly voted to approve an unfair labor practice strike at Kaiser Permanente. The workers, members of Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 2, say that Kaiser’s refusal to acknowledge understaffing is driving a growing crisis in patient care. They voted to authorize an unfair labor practice strike by 98% if an agreement isn’t reached by Sept. 30.
“We’ve been raising the alarm about patient safety, but Kaiser isn’t hearing us,” said Katrina Schaetz, an OB-GYN clinical assistant. “Kaiser executives keep refusing to listen to frontline healthcare workers on the issues that impact the care of our patients, and they’re violating the law by failing to bargain in good faith. We are standing up for more staff and better patient care. If Kaiser doesn’t stop committing unfair labor practices, healthcare workers are prepared to go on strike.”