Kaiser Permanente on Friday released details of the agreement between management and the coalition of healthcare workers' unions, staving off the continuation of the largest healthcare strike in American history.
"[I]n the early hours of October 13, 2023, we reached a tentative agreement for a renewed national agreement, bringing the nearly 7 months of contract negotiations to a conclusion," reads a Kaiser press release published Friday afternoon. "The tentative agreement now goes to the more than 85,000 Kaiser Permanente employees who are represented by Coalition unions for ratification."
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The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions launched a three-day strike last week after contract negotiations failed before the Sept. 30 deadline. Over 75,000 healthcare workers across five states and Washington, D.C., participated in the action. The coalition also warned that they would commence an additional eight-day strike in November if a deal could not be reached by the end of the month.
Kaiser published certain details of the four-year tentative agreement, including a minimum wage increase over the next three years to $25 per hour for workers in California and $23 per hour in other states. The company also promises across-the-board wage increases by 21% over four years.
The agreement also enhances the employees' Performance Sharing Plan as well as increased investment in professional development, job training, and staffing shortages.
President Joe Biden issued a statement on the agreement on Friday afternoon, saying that Americans "owe a tremendous debt to healthcare workers and the hard-working men and women who make their work possible."
"I’m grateful to Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions for coming together in good faith to ensure these workers can continue caring for our neighbors and loved ones," wrote Biden. "I’m heartened to see health care workers and their employers take this critical step towards securing the pay, benefits, and working conditions these heroes deserve."
Biden also praised acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su for her role in bridging the gap between management and labor in this instance.
"This isn’t the first time Acting Secretary Su has helped essential workers and their employers reach an agreement. She continues to play an integral role helping my administration and workers across this country build an economy that works for everyone," added Biden.
Both Kaiser and the unions also praised Su, calling her "instrumental" in progressing the negotiation. Su has not yet been confirmed by the Senate for her cabinet position.
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Kaiser's news release did not address whether there will be protections against outsourcing and contract workers replacing unionized employees, a key provision of the Coalition's strike platform.
Early Friday morning, the SEIU-UHW — part of the Coalition of eight separate unions — announced that a tentative agreement had been reached. The main Coalition website does not address the tentative agreement, nor has the Coalition publicized the successful negotiations.