PORTLAND, Ore. — Nearly 4,000 health care workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities in Oregon and southwest Washington have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, raising the prospect of widespread disruptions if a deal is not reached soon.
Workers Vote 97% in Favor
Members of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP) voted 97% in favor of authorizing a strike. The union, which represents nurses, lab technicians, social workers, physical therapists, and mental health counselors, has been in contract negotiations with Kaiser since March.
Union leaders say the vote reflects growing frustration over unresolved issues, including wages, staffing levels, and scheduling practices. The union’s current contract expires at the end of the month, meaning a strike could be called if no agreement is reached. Leaders must give Kaiser at least 10 days’ notice before any walkout.
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Facilities at Risk of Disruption
If workers strike, it would affect operations at Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro, and dozens of Kaiser clinics throughout the Portland metro area and southwest Washington.
Union president Sarina Roher said staffing shortages remain the most pressing concern, warning that understaffing compromises patient safety.
“Cutting frontline care costs is a choice — a choice that’s not in the patients’ best interest,” Roher said in a statement. “Healthcare decisions belong in the hands of those who deliver the care, not those who balance the books.”
A Broader National Labor Push
The strike authorization is part of a larger wave of labor activity among Kaiser Permanente workers nationwide. The Alliance of Health Care Unions, representing 62,000 employees across eight unions, is in the midst of tense contract negotiations with the health care giant.
So far, unions representing 46,000 workers in states including California, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., have authorized strikes as their contracts approach expiration at the end of September and early October.
Kaiser Responds to Strike Vote
In a statement, Kaiser Permanente called the strike authorization “disappointing,” saying it could disrupt patient care while bargaining continues. The health system emphasized its long-standing relationship with labor unions, noting that it employs more union-represented health care workers than any other organization in the country.
Kaiser disputed claims of unsafe staffing levels, pointing out that it meets or exceeds required nurse-to-patient ratios and that it hired more than 6,300 employees in 2024, including nearly 4,700 frontline workers.
The organization also highlighted its recognition for high-quality care and said its latest contract proposal includes a 20% wage increase over four years, with a “historic first-year raise,” as well as enhanced retirement benefits, retiree medical coverage, and education programs for employee career development.
Health Care Labor Tensions in Oregon
The looming strike follows several high-profile labor disputes across Oregon’s health care sector in recent years.
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In 2023, about 400 Kaiser pharmacy technicians and support staff staged a 21-day strike.
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Earlier this year, nearly 5,000 Providence health workers across eight hospitals walked out for 46 days, one of the longest health care strikes in state history.
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Nurses at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center also authorized a strike before reaching a last-minute agreement.
What Comes Next
With the contract deadline approaching, both Kaiser and union leaders say they remain committed to reaching a deal that supports patients while addressing staff concerns.
Whether the parties can bridge the divide in the coming weeks will determine if nearly 4,000 Kaiser workers across Oregon and southwest Washington walk off the job, potentially triggering one of the largest health care strikes in the region’s history.
