Health Workers Strike: Who's Really Paying the Price?

A major strike is unfolding in California and Hawaii. Over 31, 000 health workers have been on strike for four weeks. They are demanding better pay and working conditions. The strike has caused delays in medical care. Patients are facing canceled appointments and long waits for prescriptions. The workers are part of the United Nurses Associations of California. They represent nurses, physical therapists, and other health professionals. They want a 25% raise over four years. They say this is needed to keep and attract employees. They also argue that inflation has made their current wages insufficient. Kaiser Permanente, the health care provider, disagrees. They say their workers are already among the highest paid. They have offered a 21. 5% raise over four years. Kaiser says they can afford this without raising member premiums. But they say the union's proposal would be too costly.The union argues that Kaiser has the money to give bigger raises. They point to Kaiser's $66 billion in reserves. Kaiser says these reserves are for emergencies and long-term needs. They say using them for payroll would be irresponsible. Inflation has hit health workers hard. Many have not had a raise since 2021. Other Kaiser unions have gotten inflation-adjusted raises. The current union wants the same fairness. The strike is affecting patients. Some have had to wait hours for prescriptions. Others have had surgeries and treatments delayed. Kaiser says they have contingency plans to maintain care. But patients are still feeling the impact. One patient, Cecilia Ochoa, had a hard time getting her medication. She waited in a long line at the pharmacy. She was turned away when the pharmacy ran out of staff. She supports the strikers. She thinks Kaiser has lost sight of patient care. The strike is about more than just pay. It's about the future of health care. It's about who pays the price for rising costs. And it's about who gets to decide what's fair.