Kaiser Health Care Workers Strike in Lancaster

LANCASTER, CA, Oct. 5 (KNN) — Thousands of Kaiser Health care workers are on strike nationwide for higher wages, increased staffing and working conditions. Thursday is the second day of a three-day walkout reportedly the largest strike on record.

Key News Network covered the strike in Lancaster and spoke with a few Kaiser employees on camera regarding the walkout.

Approximately 500 Kaiser employees were picketing around noon Thursday in front of the Kaiser Permanente in the 43000 block of 15th Street West.

Lamar Johnson and Brenda Parker, who has been an employee of Kaiser for 34 years, feel Kaiser executives are not bargaining in good faith.

“As front line workers…we take care of our patients and it’s about patient care,” said Parker. Johnson added, “We believe in safe staffing because with safe staffing, we’re able to provide the care…for our community…we need Kaiser to go ahead and bargain in good faith so that way we can go ahead and care for the patients in our communities.”

The contract expired on Sept. 30, 2023, and the employees are union workers – coalition workers – who need a contract to continue working.

Another employee standing next to Parker chimed in, “We’re ready to get back to work today! Let’s get this done!”

Anthony Cheval, Video Journalist / KNN