Healthcare workers gather outside a Kaiser Permanente facility in San Diego, advocating for improved patient care and working conditions.
Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in San Diego are set to hold an informational picket as contract negotiations approach. Organized by the United Nurses Associations of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals, the picket aims to raise awareness for improved patient care and better working conditions. Scheduled for September 29, the event will focus on staffing shortages, safe working environments, and the well-being of both healthcare workers and patients. The union emphasizes the need for comprehensive negotiations ahead of their contract expiration.
Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in San Diego plan to hold an informational picket on Friday, September 29, ahead of their contract expiration. The demonstration is organized by the United Nurses Associations of California and the Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHC).
The picketing event is set to commence at 6:30 a.m. at the Kaiser Permanente facility located on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. This action comes as union members aim to raise awareness of their demands surrounding patient care improvements and working conditions just days before their contract ends.
Union members have already begun preparing for the event, creating signs that call attention to their essential requests. The focus of their demands is on safe staffing levels and adequate resources to ensure quality care for patients. A labor and delivery nurse with over two decades of experience at Kaiser, who also plays a leadership role in the union, has indicated that the well-being of mothers and babies is a top priority.
Concerns over patient care quality and provider burnout have been emphasized by various healthcare workers. A physician assistant has voiced that healthcare professionals are expected to perform optimally without corresponding recognition or support, which could lead to adverse outcomes for both workers and patients.
Union representatives are advocating for comprehensive contract negotiations that include better benefits, higher wages, and an expansion of staffing to resolve current shortages. As negotiations proceed, the union is rallying around the need for improved support systems to foster a better working environment.
Kaiser Permanente has clarified that the upcoming picket is not classified as a strike, and operations at medical facilities will persist as usual throughout the demonstration. The organization has a longstanding tradition of cooperating with labor unions and reports that over 80% of its employees are affiliated with various unions, emphasizing a commitment to working together for mutual benefit.
The negotiations at stake are part of a broader national contract involving the Alliance of Health Care Unions, which represents approximately 61,000 workers nationwide. Within this context, Kaiser Permanente has reported maintaining a low employee turnover rate of only 8%, asserting a dedication to providing a positive work environment while prioritizing patient affordability.
Organizers expect the demonstration to draw more than 500 participants in San Diego. The local union president has stated that the struggle is fundamentally about protecting patient care while ensuring respect and recognition for healthcare workers.
As the picket approaches, healthcare workers are actively seeking to highlight the issues caused by staffing shortages and management decisions that they believe negatively impact patient care systems. The demonstration aims to bring community awareness to these challenges and to rally support for their ongoing negotiations.
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