Kaiser Permanente union workers strike looms, contract expires with no deal reached

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - More than 75-thousand health care workers with Kaiser Permanente across the country and here in Colorado are threatening to walk off the job this week.

If it happens, it would be the largest health care strike in U.S. history. 

The contract between Kaiser Permanente and union workers expired over the weekend, without a deal being made. Now, the clock is ticking to keep 4,000 Colorado healthcare workers from walking off the job on Wednesday. 

Nurses, therapists, technicians, dietary services, maintenance and janitorial staff are among the staff set to walk out for a four-day strike, if a deal isn't reached. 

Unionized staff members, which includes 3,000 front line workers in our state are asking for increased pay, job protections, and solutions to fix labor shortages.

Kaiser Permanente said tentative agreements were made so far for, “travel for continuing education, the use of temporary workers such as traveling nurses, tracking of staffing vacancies, and dispute resolution.” 

The company says it proposed increasing minimum wage for workers to $21 per hour here in Colorado. 

At this time, Kaiser Permanente representatives in Colorado Springs are continuing to bargain with workers to prevent a strike.

In the event workers do strike, a spokesperson said they do have contingency plans in place to continue to provide care to patients during a strike.

However, when asked what those plans were, Kaiser Permanente would not go into detail.

The company did say medical offices and urgent cares will remain open no matter what.