Nearly six months into their ongoing labor dispute with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, eight mental health care workers organized a five-day hunger strike last week to draw attention to their cause.
“They’re trying to starve us out, so we’re giving them what they want,” said Adriana Webb, a member of the National Union of Healthcare Workers. Webb, who survived on water and electrolytes from Monday to Friday, said, “I feel hungry for equity and change. How is this any different?”
These workers are currently engaged in what is now the longest mental health care strike in U.S. history. They are demanding a new union contract that includes:
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More time between therapy sessions for patient follow-ups
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Restoration of pension benefits removed from employee contracts in 2015
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Cost-of-living wage adjustments
In December, a group of Democratic state lawmakers urged Kaiser to accept the union’s “reasonable contract proposals.” State officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, also requested that both sides work toward a resolution. Mediation was agreed upon by Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly and former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.
After negotiations stalled in March, with Kaiser unwilling to address key issues, union negotiators voted to suspend mediation. Bargaining is set to resume today.
Steinberg previously mediated a similar strike in Northern California in 2022, which lasted 10 weeks and led to Kaiser meeting most of the union’s demands.
“Kaiser already offers these benefits to workers in Northern California,” said Webb. “All we’re asking for is the same treatment. Kaiser has no explanation for why we deserve less, or why our patients deserve less.”
Kaiser spokesperson Terry Kanakri responded to questions by emphasizing Kaiser’s commitment to working with over 40 unions. He said, “We have made repeated efforts to improve our proposals during bargaining, but the union has shown little movement on key issues.”
Glenn Melnick, a professor of healthcare finance at USC, discussed economic factors influencing the dispute. He explained that wage differences between Northern and Southern California are significant, with Northern California having higher wages due to its cost of living. He also pointed out that pension benefits have been reduced in many companies, not just Kaiser.
From April 8 to April 12, hunger strikers spent long days picketing and fasting in West Hollywood. Their nights were spent at a local church, sleeping in cramped quarters. They received daily health checks from volunteer nurses.
“I feel like I could go another month,” said Zhane Sandoval, a hunger striker on day four of the fast. “Test me, Kaiser!”
Union organizer Rachel Forgash expressed frustration over Kaiser’s handling of the situation. “Kaiser’s goal is to drag this out as long as possible, but we’re prepared to continue the fight,” she said.
Aida Valvidia and Melissa Chavez, both long-time workers at Kaiser, also participated in the hunger strike despite having pension benefits that others do not. “It’s unfair for them to be without pensions,” said Valvidia. “We’re all equals.”
The strike garnered attention from iconic labor leader Dolores Huerta, who visited the picketers just days before her 95th birthday. “You’re fighting for all the patients who are not getting the mental health services they deserve,” Huerta said.
The union also points to a state report from 2022 highlighting Kaiser’s failure to address numerous violations, leading to $200 million in state fines. Kaiser, in response, insists that it has made progress on addressing deficiencies.
As the strike continues, some workers have returned to their jobs due to financial pressures but continue to voice concerns about conditions at Kaiser. “Many workers are documenting what’s wrong, but managers are actively pushing back,” said hunger striker Kassaundra Gutierrez-Thompson.
On April 9, musician Tom Morello and lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, visited the hunger strikers in support.
“The fight isn’t just about us,” said hunger striker Ana Vargas Garcia. “There are real lives behind every worker at Kaiser. Patients can’t just be treated as numbers.”
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