A number of healthcare workers recently have gone on strike or authorized strikes. Here are some of the persistent issues contributing to the employees' decisions to strike.
1. Staffing issues. Members of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West plan to strike at 11 Tenet Healthcare facilities in California.
"We want Tenet Healthcare to bargain with us in good faith to address healthcare staffing and help ensure the additional support needed in the workplace and our hospital markets," a union representative told Becker's on Oct. 3. "Tenet Healthcare can and must do better for our communities."
Dallas-based Tenet, meanwhile, expressed disappointment about the union's action and said it is committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a fair agreement to continue to recruit and retain workers.
2. Unfair labor practices. Hundreds of pharmacy technicians, pharmacy clerks and pharmacy warehouse employees at Kaiser Permanente began picketing Oct. 1 in a strike, alleging that Kaiser is engaging in unfair labor practices. Monthslong negotiations have centered around staffing levels and wages for first-year employees and those working nights and weekends.
A Kaiser spokesperson previously told Becker's the union includes 380 of its pharmacy workers.
Kaiser also said it remains optimistic that it will reach an agreement with the coalition "and avoid an unnecessary strike." If a strike does occur, there are contingency plans in place to ensure safe, high-quality care continues for the duration of the strike, Kaiser said, adding that "hospitals and emergency departments will remain open."
3. Wages, subcontracting and outsourcing protocols. Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees — independent of the aforementioned pharmacy staff members — across the U.S. are preparing to go on strike this week after their contract expired with no new labor agreement in place.
"There have been good discussions with Kaiser on a number of issues, and while there is no concrete agreement, we can see a path to resolution on raising shift differentials, a fair remote work agreement, and investments in training for both current employees to promote to harder to fill jobs and community members to become the healthcare workforce needed for the future," a statement from the coalition read. But the statement noted the parties remain "far apart" on several matters, including across-the-board raises, protections against subcontracting and outsourcing, applying union organizing rights to any system Kaiser may acquire, an amount for performance-sharing bonuses and a premium subsidy/health reimbursement retiree medical plan.
In a statement shared with Becker's on Sept. 30, Kaiser said the organization and coalition "continue to make progress on key issues such as a redesigned performance-sharing plan with updated payout opportunities." Kaiser said the parties reached tentative agreements in travel for continuing education, the use of temporary workers such as traveling nurses, tracking of staffing vacancies and dispute resolution.
4. Patient loads and long hours. Approximately 80 physicians and advanced practice providers at urgent care centers operated by Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare have authorized a strike.
The union said contract talks have focused on patient loads, providers working beyond 12-hour shifts, no scheduled meal breaks, and wages that lag behind the cost of living in Washington. The union also said Indigo has seen a 26 percent turnover rate in the past year.
MultiCare told NBC affiliate KING that it has been bargaining with UAPD since November and has held 19 bargaining sessions, one of which included a federal mediator.