Kauai Kaiser Permanente Health Workers Join Statewide Unfair Labor Practice Strike

Hundreds of Kaiser Permanente caregivers in Hawaiʻi, including staff on Kauai, joined an unfair labor practice strike that is part of a nationwide 31,000-worker action, pressing the health system for more staffing, workload protections and fair wages. The walkout, described by union leaders as a response to alleged bargaining violations, raises concerns about continuity of care for island residents who already face limited local specialty resources.

Union leaders with UNAC/UHCP said the strike aims to protect patients and address chronic staffing shortfalls. Charmaine S. Morales, president of UNAC/UHCP, said, “We’re striking because Kaiser has committed serious unfair labor practices and because Kaiser refuses to bargain in good faith over staffing that protects patients, workload standards that stop moral injury and the respect and dignity that Kaiser caregivers have been denied for far too long.” Morales added, “Striking is the lawful power of working people, and we are prepared to use it on behalf of our profession and patients.”

UNAC/UHCP represents about 41,000 registered nurses and front-line health professionals across California and Hawaiʻi, and roughly 31,000 of those members work at Kaiser Permanente. The union says its statewide demands include more staffing, timely access to quality care, workload standards to prevent moral injury, a stronger voice in clinical decisions and fair wages for frontline caregivers. Striking workers include registered nurses, pharmacists, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and other specialty clinicians.

Kaiser Permanente told members that hospitals, emergency rooms and medical offices will remain open and that most appointments and procedures will continue, with patients to be notified in advance if their care is affected. A Kaiser representative, Applin-Jones, criticized the strike, saying, “Despite the union's claims, this strike is about wages. This open-ended strike by UNAC/UHCP is unnecessary when such a generous offer is on the table. The strike is designed to disrupt the lives of our patients the very people we are all here to serve.”

The walkout follows months of bargaining and formal complaints. Union negotiators have been bargaining with Kaiser since May 2025, the group’s collective contract with Kaiser expired on Sept. 30, and members filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in December alleging Kaiser walked away from the bargaining table and attempted to bypass agreed-upon national bargaining processes. Union leaders describe the action as an open-ended unfair labor practice strike that will continue until a new labor agreement is reached.

On-the-ground picket lines appeared at facilities across California and Hawaiʻi, with dozens observed at sites such as Roseville Medical Center and more than two dozen hospitals and clinics reported across the two states. Local union members emphasize that patient safety is central to their demands. Christabel Vann Nguyen, a night-shift operating room nurse, said, “We’re tired of [Kaiser’s] lack of commitment to our patients and the lack of respect they show for our work.” Nguyen added, “We give our all every day and we don’t have the necessary resources. We're here asking Kaiser to come to the table for our patients, so we can provide better care for everybody.” Gerard Corros, a day shift charge nurse, underscored the point: “When you need something in health care, you look for a nurse,” and “A physician cannot be a physician without a nurse. Health care will not be going anywhere without your health care professionals, without the PAs and MPs and nursing professionals.”

For Kauai residents, the strike means watching for messages from Kaiser about specific appointment changes and preparing for possible scheduling adjustments. The broader public-health concern is that persistent staffing shortages and stalled bargaining can erode care continuity and staff well-being, particularly on islands with fewer options for specialty referrals. Expect negotiations to continue, potential NLRB proceedings, and union updates on strike duration; contact your Kaiser clinic directly if you have a scheduled appointment or urgent care needs.