Oregon & SW Washington – UFCW Local 555 has just notified Kaiser Permanente that our members working under the pharmacy contract will be conducting an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike beginning on Sunday, October 1, 2023, through Saturday, October 21, 2023.
The ULP strike was authorized by the membership in ULP strike authorization votes last week, which were near unanimous at 99.6%.
Kaiser has committed numerous Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs), including failing to provide information regarding bargaining and grievances, attempting to directly deal with our members, and attempting to dictate to the Union who may serve as its representative.
The vote comes after months of negotiations between Kaiser Permanente and UFCW 555, as well as with the Coalition of Kaiser Unions. Local 555’s bargaining team has pushed for first-year wage adjustments, increased wage differentials such as for nights and weekends, and increased staffing.
“The number one issue at Kaiser is the lack of staffing. Workers are burning out, patients are having to wait months to receive care, and the problem is only getting worse. We were prepared to work on a deal that’s sustainable for the patients, our healthcare professionals, and the company, but Kaiser has been completely unwilling to accept the real impact of underpaying healthcare professionals and understaffing job sites.” – Dan Clay, President, UFCW Local 555.