More Than 8,600 Inland Empire Kaiser Permanente Workers Strike for Patient Care, Fair Wages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tues., Oct. 14, 2025
Contact: Chelsey Engel, cengel@usw.org, 412-212-8173

(Fontana, Calif.) – More than 8,600 Kaiser Permanente health care workers across the Inland Empire have gone on strike today after months of stalled negotiations over patient care and fair wages.

The workers—members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7600—join tens of thousands of other Kaiser employees in taking the historic step to withhold their labor in response to management’s failure to listen to frontline caregivers and address unsafe staffing levels, stagnant pay, and the growing crisis in patient care.

“Our members do not take this step lightly,” said Local 7600 President Micheal Barnett. “We chose our careers to care for our community, not to strike, but Kaiser has refused to invest in its workforce. This strike is about safe staffing, respect on the job, and ensuring every patient gets the care they deserve.”

Local bargaining with Kaiser Permanente began in April, while national negotiations with the Alliance of Health Care Unions (AHCU) started in May. AHCU, which represents more than 62,000 Kaiser workers across the country, has been pushing for stronger staffing commitments and fair wage increases to help recruit and retain skilled caregivers.

Contracts covering nearly 50,000 Kaiser workers – including nurses, therapists, technicians, lab staff, service and technical workers, and other frontline professionals – expired on September 30 and October 1. In the weeks leading up to expiration, union members across the United States voted overwhelmingly to authorize strikes.

“Striking is always a last resort,” Barnett added. “But when Kaiser refuses to bargain in good faith and continues to put profits before patients, workers must stand up – for ourselves, our families, and the people we serve every day.”

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

USW members will be picketing at the following locations from 7 AM to 7 PM: Fontana Medical Center 9961 Sierra Ave., Fontana, CA 92335 | Riverside Medical Center 10800 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92505 | Ontario Medical Center 2295 S Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91761

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The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in health care, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.