The largest healthcare sector strike in US history has started in Los Angeles with a total of 75,000 healthcare workers. Healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente have started their three-day strike as a demand to their requests for a fair contract and higher pay.
The healthcare strike occurred in the midst of America's continuing labour unrest. The health industry has joined the picket lines in conjunction with the UAW strike and the strike by Hollywood actors.
After the union and Kaiser Permanente, the largest non-profit healthcare organisation in the US, failed to reach an agreement on a fair contract, the strike was declared. The largest healthcare walkout, which involved 53,000 workers, occurred in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics.
According to Kaiser, several issues have been reached on a tentative agreement. The nonprofit organisation will keep collaborating with union officials to "reconvene bargaining as soon as possible."
However, union workers stated that they are "awaiting a meaningful response from Kaiser executives regarding some of our priorities." In light of the rising inflation, workers have sought higher pay, more hiring, and fair contracts.
X-ray technician Armando Velasco told AFP, "Ever since the pandemic hit, we lost a lot of members and we never recovered them. And now we're at the brink, we're at the precipice," adding that healthcare workers are "underpaid and overworked".
Union Workers have declared that they will continue the strike and take other actions in November 2023 as well. "If Kaiser continues to commit unfair labour practices."
(Photo: Insider)
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