Washington State Nurses Association supports Kaiser strikers

Seattle—Washington State Nurses Association stands with 32,000 nurses and health professionals including members of our AFT-affiliated nurses at Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals who intend to begin their strike at Kaiser Permanente locations in Washington, Oregon and California starting November 15.

This strike is about patient care. Nurses and health professionals have put forward proposals to solve the current staffing crisis and ensure safe staffing in the future. Instead of investing in workers and patient care, Kaiser is now pushing proposals that cut costs on the backs of frontline health workers, including a two-tier system that would punish future employees and make it harder to recruit qualified workers.

In the midst of a nationwide staffing crisis, Kaiser is pushing proposals that would create a disaster for patient care by making it harder to recruit and retain the staff needed to care for patients.

When nurses and healthcare professionals get the resources we need then the entire community benefits. WSNA stands with Kaiser workers and the communities they serve in calling on Kaiser to come to the table and negotiate a deal that invests in workers and patient care.

Further, recent reports indicate that Kaiser is already working with outside staffing firms to recruit workers to cross the picket line and break the strike. WSNA strongly encourages all health professionals to respect the strike line and decline any travel assignment that would interfere with workers who are standing up for themselves and their patients.

Striking takes courage and solidarity. It also requires willingness to forgo pay for an indefinite time. WSNA encourages members who are able to make a contribution to help our fellow AFT-affiliated nurses at the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals by contributing to the OFNHP hardship fund.