NOVEMBER 5, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
Kaiser workers to strike Nov. 15, may affect services
states, with the possibility of thousands
more joining once the strike begins.
There are a total of 52 Kaiser Permanente
facilities in Oregon that will be aff ected,
with a total of four facilities in Keizer and
Salem.
A statement on Kaiser’s website says
that a strike notice “does not mean a
strike will happen” and that “negotia-
tions are continuing and we're optimis-
tic that an agreement can be reached at
the bargaining table.”
If the two sides are unable to reach an
agreement, Kaiser will list which loca-
tions and services are impacted on their
website. The health care provider will
also contact individuals by email, phone
call or text if any elective surgeries and
non-urgent appointments need to be
rescheduled.
Additionally, in a statement on their
website, Kaiser said in the event of a
strike, outpatient pharmacies may close
as well and the best way to fi ll a prescrip-
tion is use the mail order delivery ser-
vice available on their website and app.
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By JOEY CAPPELLETTI
Of the Keizertimes
On Monday, Nov. 15, 3,400 Kaiser
Permanente workers in Oregon and
southwest Washington will join a total
of 35,000 workers across fi ve states
in beginning an indefi nite strike. The
strike is expected to impact Kaiser
Permanente’s Keizer Station Medical
Offi ce and at least three Kaiser facilities
in Salem.
Shane Burley, a spokesman for the
Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health
Professionals, said that he doesn’t expect
the strike to aff ect the Kaiser-affi liated
Salem Hospital.
“Striking is our last resort, but it is
what we must do so that we can pro-
tect our patients, our workers, and our
entire public healthcare system from the
disastrous attack Kaiser leadership is
staging,” said Jodi Barschow, President
of the Oregon Federation of Nurses
and Health Professionals (OFNHP), the
union that represents the 3,400 workers.
Last month, 96% of nearly 3,400
Kaiser workers in Oregon and southwest
Washington voted to approve the strike.
On Nov. 4, labor unions gave Kaiser
Permanente the required 10-day notice
that they planned on striking on Nov. 15.
“We hoped that simply authorizing
Kaiser's Keizer Station Medical Office.
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
the strike, holding rallies and other
forms of collective worker and commu-
nity action would push Kaiser to do the
right thing, but they have continued to
push proposals that would create dan-
gerous conditions for patients and staff ,”
said Barschow.
Lack of staffi ng, wages and working
conditions are all driving forces behind
the strike. Kaiser workers also oppose
a “two-tier” system proposed by Kaiser
executives that would pay future hires
less and potentially worsen the staff -
ing crisis. Under the proposed system,
wages for new hires would be cut by 15%.
“The 'two-tiered' system would accel-
erate the staffi ng crisis, ensuring danger-
ous conditions in hospitals and clinics
around Oregon. Kaiser RNs and other
healthcare professionals have fi lled out
a survey asking how they are respond-
ing to the crisis. 42.2% of those surveyed
report that they are considering leaving
the fi eld entirely over the treatment they
have received at Kaiser,” a statement
from the Oregon nurses and health pro-
fessionals union said.
These 3,400 Kaiser workers will be
joined by 32,000 workers across fi ve
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