Kaiser Strike Enters Fourth Week as 31,000 Workers Demand Higher Pay and Better Staffing

Walkout has resulted in canceled appointments and disrupted patient care across California and Hawaii

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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More than 31,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers, including 22,000 nurses in Southern California, have been on strike for four weeks as they demand a 25% raise over four years and improved staffing conditions. The strike has disrupted patient appointments, surgeries, and treatments across the state. Kaiser has proposed a 21.5% wage increase over four years, but union leaders argue the company can afford more given its $66 billion in reserves.

Why it matters

This strike highlights the ongoing tensions between health care workers and large providers like Kaiser over wages, benefits, and staffing levels. It comes amid rising health care costs and inflation, with workers arguing they need higher pay to keep up. The disruption to patient care also raises concerns about access to medical services, especially for vulnerable populations.

The details

The strike, which started on January 26, involves members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, which represents nurses, physical therapists, midwives, and other health professionals. Workers accuse Kaiser of violating staffing agreements and worsening patient care, which the company denies. Kaiser says its wage proposal would cost about $2 billion, while the union's would cost an additional $1 billion. The union is also bargaining for first contracts for newly formed unions representing nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and physician assistants in Northern California.

  • The strike began on January 26, 2026.
  • The union's previous contract with Kaiser expired in September 2025.

The players

United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals

An umbrella organization representing nurses, physical therapists, midwives, and other health professionals who are striking against Kaiser Permanente.

Kaiser Permanente

A large health care provider in California and Hawaii that is in contract negotiations with the union.

Joe Guzynski

Executive director for the union, who says members are seeking the same inflation-adjusted wage increases that other Kaiser unions have received.

Brian Mason

Lead negotiator for the newly formed union of nurse midwives in Northern California, who says they are only a few hundred thousand dollars apart from Kaiser on a contract.

Emily Hardy

A certified nurse midwife at the Redwood City Medical Center who says walking off the job was a 'last resort' after two years of negotiations.

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What they’re saying

“What we're asking for is the same deal. Everybody else got to deal with inflation. It's really about restoring fairness.”

— Joe Guzynski, Executive director, United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (CalMatters)

“The reality is we're a few hundreds of thousands of dollars apart and that's like being $10 apart for the common person. It's not a lot, but they're acting like we're asking for billions and billions of dollars.”

— Brian Mason, Lead negotiator, Northern California nurse midwives union (CalMatters)

“It has felt very painful because you operated for so long under the assumption that your employer really valued your services and cared about the impacts you made for members. To hear 'we want to lower retirement and keep wages stagnant' does not tell me that you value (us).”

— Emily Hardy, Certified nurse midwife, Redwood City Medical Center (CalMatters)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This strike highlights the ongoing tensions between health care workers and large providers like Kaiser over wages, benefits, and staffing levels, raising concerns about access to medical services, especially for vulnerable populations. It also underscores the need for health systems to adequately compensate and support their frontline workers to ensure quality patient care.