More than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers to end strike in California and Hawaii - AP News
AP News
February 23, 2026
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More than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers in California and Hawaii have agreed to end their strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the company. The deal includes improved wages, mental health support for employees, and enhanced staffing levels. This resolution comes after months of negotiations and nearly two weeks of strikes, which had caused disruptions in patient care and raised concerns among both workers and the public.
The strike, involving nurses, technicians, and other health care staff, was part of a broader labor movement seeking better working conditions and fair compensation. Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest health care providers in the U.S., faced significant pressure as its facilities in California and Hawaii were impacted, leading to delays in non-urgent medical procedures and reduced services for patients.
This agreement highlights the ongoing challenges of labor negotiations in the healthcare sector, where workers often balance advocating for their rights with maintaining patient care. The deal also underscores the importance of addressing mental health support and staffing shortages, issues that have become increasingly critical in the post-pandemic era.
The resolution is a significant step toward stabilizing Kaiser Permanente’s workforce, but it remains to be seen how these changes will impact both employee satisfaction and patient outcomes. This development is closely watched by labor unions
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Originally published on AP News on 2/23/2026