LOS ANGELES — An indefinite strike commenced on Monday involving over 2,400 mental health professionals, including psychologists, therapists, and social workers, affiliated with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. This action, motivated by concerns over overwhelming workloads and staffing deficits, has led the union representing these workers to label the current system of care as “substandard.”
The National Union of Healthcare Workers is currently engaged in contract negotiations with the Oaklan-based healthcare provider. They are advocating for the hiring of additional staff to alleviate the strain on existing personnel, a need perceived as critical by the striking workers.
In a Monday statement, Kaiser responded to the strike by accusing the union of delaying negotiations, characterizing their proposals as “overreaching and unreasonable.” Kaiser claimed to have presented robust proposals to the union, asserting their commitment to resolving the ongoing issues.
On the picket lines, which emerged across various Kaiser locations in counties such as Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego, workers expressed their grievances. Among them was Antonia Rodarte, a licensed marriage and family therapist who journeyed to Los Angeles with around 35 colleagues from Bakersfield. “Burnout is becoming more severe among our peers. Staff members are resigning because they cannot cope with the demands placed upon them,” Rodarte noted, highlighting that Kaiser prioritizes patient volume over the quality of care received.
Another mental health worker, Natalie Espinoza, emphasized the insufficiency of personnel at Kaiser facilities, stating that she often manages up to 10 patients daily, while sacrificing her lunch breaks and struggling to maintain necessary documentation.
Preparations for the strike took place over the weekend after the union declined Kaiser’s proposals earlier in the week. Kaiser deemed the strike as “entirely unnecessary,” alleging that the union seeks financial benefits, which would require therapists to allocate nearly half of their work time to non-patient activities—essentially limiting patient access to mental health services.
This strike marks the second occasion within two years that Kaiser therapists have engaged in such action. A previous 10-week strike in 2022 by Northern California mental health workers resulted in enhanced patient care time and increased staffing alongside expanded services in clinics.
Workers in Southern California are now claiming similar rights, with Democratic state Senator Maria Elena Durazo joining the picketers in Los Angeles. “These workers rightly demand the same working conditions that were granted in Northern California, arguing that they too deserve improved circumstances,” Durazo stated.
Kaiser publicly reassured its patients, indicating that they are informing those whose appointments may be disrupted by the strike. The provider mentioned that patients would be able to consult other professionals within their extensive network if their regular therapist is unavailable due to the ongoing strike.