Press Releases

LOS ANGELES – Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and his colleagues sent a letter to Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan, Inc. and Alliance of Health Care Union, urging them negotiate a fair contract that bolsters the economy, the healthcare industry, and the patients and members they care for. 

“Kaiser and its labor unions have long set a nationally recognized model for high employment standards, business success, and quality care through a labor-management partnership,” the members wrote in the letter. “Now all of that is at risk, with important implications for our health care system and labor-management relations across the U.S. It is for this reason that we urge you to redouble your efforts to negotiate collaboratively to reach a fair contract that will allow for the recruitment and retention of experienced healthcare workers.”   

The letter follows an announcement that unions representing 40,000 healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente plan to strike on November 15 unless negotiations improve. 

In addition to Congressman Gomez, the letter has also been also signed by: 

Reps. Nanette Diaz Barragan (Calif.), Eleanor Norton (D.C.), Juan Vargas (Calif.), Adam Schiff (Calif.), Mark Pocan (Wis.), John Garamendi (Calif.), Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Norma Torres (Calif.), Linda Sánchez (Calif.), Brian Higgins (N.Y.), Julia Brownley (Calif.), Kurt Schrader (Ore.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Grace Napolitano (Calif.), Tim Ryan (Ohio), Bill Pascrell (N.J.), Andy Levin (Mich.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Susan Wild (Pa.), Ted Lieu (Calif.), Peter DeFazio (Ore.), Marie Newman (Ill.), Mike Thompson (Calif.), Donald Norcross (N.J.), Mark DeSauliner (Calif.), Hank Johnson (Ga.), Raul Ruiz (Calif.), Brendan Boyle (Penn.), Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), and Salud Carbajal (Calif.).

Click here to read the letter or read the full text below: 

Dear Mr. Adams and Mr. Ruddick:  

As Members of Congress who represent millions of healthcare workers – registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants and others - across the country, we urge the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan, Inc. (“Kaiser”) to negotiate a fair contract with the Alliance of Health Care Unions (“Alliance”). Such a contract must acknowledge the pivotal role Kaiser and its union workforce play in responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency and caring for the sick.   

Throughout the pandemic, healthcare workers on the frontline have endured trauma, grief and exhaustion. Now, this stress is further magnified as record number of retirements and resignations have led more than half a million workers to leave the healthcare profession since the start of the pandemic. Employers across the industry are desperately searching for enough healthcare workers to provide safe care, workers are scrambling to provide safe care without enough staff, and patients are waiting far too long for routine as well as acute care.  Many employers are responding to the challenge of attracting and retaining health care workers by increasing compensation.  

The outcome of your negotiations will reverberate throughout the healthcare industry. Kaiser and its labor unions have long set a nationally recognized model for high employment standards, business success, and quality care through a labor-management partnership. Now all of that is at risk, with important implications for our health care system and labor-management relations across the U.S. It is for this reason that we urge you to redouble your efforts to negotiate collaboratively to reach a fair contract that will allow for the recruitment and retention of experienced healthcare workers.  

A strike would worsen access to care – already challenged by the ongoing pandemic and deferred care – and would be a blow to our economy and safe patient care. We hope that all parties will work in good faith to reach an agreement that bolsters our economy, the healthcare industry, and the patients and members you care for. 

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