Kaiser Workers Set to Vote on Tentative Deal Ending Six-Month Strike

After more than six months on strike, approximately 2,400 mental health and addiction medicine workers at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California have reached a tentative agreement with management that could end the longest mental healthcare strike in U.S. history. The strike began in late October 2024, with workers demanding pay equity with their Northern California counterparts, more time for patient care, and the restoration of defined-benefit pensions. Both the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and Kaiser Permanente have acknowledged the instrumental support of mediators in reaching this agreement. The tentative contract will be reviewed and voted on by NUHW members, with ratification expected by May 8. If approved, the agreement will take effect immediately, though specific details will be released only after ratification. The outcome could set important precedents for mental health worker contracts across the region.