Kaiser nurses deliver 10-day strike notice, Jan. 26 deadline

The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) delivered a 10-day strike notice to Kaiser Permanente on Jan. 15, 2026, warning that an unfair labor practice strike could begin Jan. 26 unless bargaining makes progress. The notice covers about 31,000 frontline registered nurses and other health care professionals at nearly 20 Kaiser hospitals and roughly 200 clinics across Hawaiʻi and California, including Hilo Clinic, Kona Medical Office and Waimea Clinic on Hawaiʻi Island.

Union leaders said stalled bargaining, chronic understaffing and delayed care prompted the action, and they framed the strike authorization as a move to win binding staffing protections and workload standards aimed at protecting patients and reducing worker burnout. The union also alleges Kaiser has accumulated large financial reserves and continued expansion even as patient care and staffing levels have suffered.

This escalation follows a five-day strike by UNAC/UHCP in October 2025 and an unfair labor practice charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board in December. Those earlier actions signaled prolonged tensions and a bargaining relationship that union leaders described as stalled at the national level.

Kaiser responded that it has been bargaining nationally for months and has proposed moving remaining issues to local bargaining tables. The health system also referenced a pause in national bargaining and said it made a historic offer that would deliver 21.5% wage increases over the life of the contract. Neither side indicated immediate plans for mediated talks before the Jan. 26 potential start date.

For Big Island residents, the notice heightens the possibility of staffing disruptions at local Kaiser facilities. Outpatient appointments, clinic staffing levels and scheduling for elective services could be affected if an actual strike occurs, although the specific operational impact will depend on whether union members walk out and on contingency staffing plans Kaiser may implement. Hilo, Kona and Waimea patients who rely on Kaiser for primary care, specialty appointments or routine services should monitor clinic messages, check online scheduling portals and watch for updates from both Kaiser and UNAC/UHCP in the coming days.

Local pharmacies, urgent care centers and other health providers may see increased demand if Kaiser clinic access is limited. Community members with upcoming appointments may consider confirming or rescheduling nonurgent visits and ensuring continuity plans for chronic conditions.

If negotiations do not advance before the deadline, residents can expect continued public updates as the situation unfolds. For now, the notice puts pressure on both sides to resolve long-standing staffing and workload disputes that union leaders say are tied to patient safety and staff retention.