Kaiser Mental Health Workers Not Backing Down From Demands For Better Patient Care 1 The union and health care provider will try to meet again next week to negotiate an agreement.
Andrea Kumura’s career came to a halt on Aug. 29 when she and about 60 other mental health providers went on strike against Kaiser Permanente, spurred by staffing shortages, poor working conditions and comparatively low wages.
The longtime clinical social worker for youth and kupuna has been part of the negotiations between the National Union of Healthcare Workers and Kaiser, but so far they have been unable to reach an agreement.
“It’s not a Covid issue like Kaiser is saying,” Kumura said. “It is way beyond that.”
The bargaining committee rejected Kaiser’s latest offer this week, and the next meeting is set for Thursday, according to Laura Lott, a Kaiser representative. Kaiser declined a request for an interview.
