Nurses Picket 22 Kaiser Facilities Over Layoffs, AI

Nurses represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United staged informational pickets at 22 Kaiser Permanente facilities across California — including Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento and the Bay Area — to protest recent layoffs, alleged wage theft, the rollout of untested AI technologies, and what they say is Kaiser prioritizing profits over patient care. Union leaders and frontline nurses warned staffing cuts and expanded use of technology could undermine safe care, saying the actions reflect concerns about safe staffing and working conditions for nearly 25,000 Kaiser nurses. Kaiser Permanente said the demonstrations were a visibility effort by the union, that it meets or exceeds staffing regulations, and that a four-year contract reached in 2022 provides competitive wages and benefits. Kaiser added the actions were informational, not part of a work stoppage, and did not affect care delivery. Related labor tensions include thousands of Kaiser Hawaii healthcare workers authorizing a potential strike when their contract expires and other nursing actions such as a ballot at Mayo University Hospital in Ireland and an informational picket planned by Seattle Children’s nurses over staffing, pay and safety.