Kaiser Permanente and union workers reach tentative deal after largest health care strike in US history

The union workers went on strike for three days last week, and were threatening to go on the picket lines again

According to Kaiser Permanente, union workers and the health-care giant have reached a tentative agreement following the largest strike in U.S. health-care history.

According to a Kaiser spokesperson, the new agreement, which will be in effect until October 1, 2027, is expected to be ratified on October 18.

“The new 4-year agreement will offer Coalition-represented employees competitive wages, excellent benefits, generous retirement income plans, and valuable job training opportunities that support their economic well-being, advance our shared mission, and keep Kaiser Permanente a best place to work and receive care,” the company said in a statement.

The agreement was first announced on social media by the largest union involved in the historic labor dispute.

“The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions’ frontline health care workers are excited to have reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente,” SEIU-United Health Workers said at 4:07 a.m. Friday.

Kaiser echoed the union’s words in its own social media post.

Though the strike only lasted 72 hours, from October 4 to the morning of October 7, it became the largest healthcare strike in U.S. history, with 75,000 Kaiser employees across the country going on strike, including thousands in the Bay Area. Pay and staffing shortages were among the union’s grievances against the health care provider.

If no agreement was reached by the end of October, the unions threatened a larger and longer strike in November.

The new agreement consists of four key points, with additional details to be announced later. These four are as follows:

• A minimum wage of $25 per hour for California workers; $23 per hour in other states
• Guaranteed raises totaling 21% over a four-year period for all employees
• Additional payout opportunities for employees through a Performance Sharing Plan
• Increased investments in professional development and job training, as well as initiatives to help with the staffing crisis

This is an ongoing story. Keep checking back for updates.