Thousands of Kaiser Therapists Strike Over AI, Contract Negotiations

Mental health professionals demand protections from layoffs as Kaiser embraces AI tools

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:35am

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About 2,400 mental health therapists at Kaiser Permanente in the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Central Valley went on a one-day strike on Wednesday over the health provider's use of artificial intelligence and stalled contract negotiations. The National Union of Healthcare Workers said members are seeking protections from layoffs as Kaiser adopts AI tools to record patient sessions and screen those seeking mental health care. The union also said therapists have worked without a contract since September, with the two sides far apart in negotiations.

Why it matters

This strike highlights growing tensions between healthcare workers and management over the role of AI in patient care. Unions are pushing back on AI tools that they say could replace human assessment and decision-making, while Kaiser argues the technology is meant to support, not replace, its care teams. The contract dispute also reflects broader challenges in the healthcare industry around staffing, workloads, and compensation.

The details

The one-day strike involved mental health therapists at Kaiser's medical centers in Oakland, Santa Rosa, and Santa Clara. The union is also pushing back on management demands to curb time spent on patient notes and messages, saying Kaiser wants therapists to see more patients in less time with fewer resources. Kaiser said it has hired more mental health workers and views AI as a way to support clinicians, not replace them, though the union claims the technology could lead to layoffs.

  • The strike took place on Wednesday, March 19, 2026.
  • The therapists have been working without a contract since September 2025.

The players

National Union of Healthcare Workers

The union representing the striking mental health therapists at Kaiser Permanente.

Dr. Emma Olsen

A psychiatrist at Kaiser in Vallejo and a union steward.

Katy Roemer

A nurse in adult and family medicine at Kaiser Permanente.

Lionel Sims

Senior vice president, Human Resources, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals.

Priya Smith

Chief employee human resources officer, The Permanente Medical Group.

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What they’re saying

“They're trying to take all that time away. They really just want us to be seeing people back to back to back, to be seeing more people for less time with less resources.”

— Dr. Emma Olsen, Psychiatrist and union steward

“Is AI going to benefit patients? Is AI going to benefit the people that work for Kaiser Permanente? Or is AI going to benefit the bottom line of the corporation? So we want AI that's transparent, that is allowing people to do their jobs.”

— Katy Roemer, Nurse

“We see technology — and AI, in particular — as a way to support you in managing your practice and provide you with tools that facilitate greater access to care and connection with patients.”

— Lionel Sims and Priya Smith, Kaiser Permanente executives

What’s next

The union and Kaiser Permanente management are expected to continue contract negotiations in the coming weeks in an effort to reach a new agreement.

The takeaway

This strike highlights the ongoing tensions between healthcare workers and management over the role of AI in patient care. Unions are pushing back on AI tools that they say could replace human assessment and decision-making, while Kaiser argues the technology is meant to support, not replace, its care teams. The contract dispute also reflects broader challenges in the healthcare industry around staffing, workloads, and compensation.