Tens of thousands of striking California healthcare workers begin to walk off job as hospital chaos looms

Tens of thousands of California health care workers began striking Monday morning amid a long-simmering battle with employer Kaiser Permanente over wages and staffing levels.

Members of the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals — which represents more than 40,000 registered nurses and health workers across California and Hawaii — launched the strike at 7 a.m. Monday after contract talks stalled at the end of 2025.

Workers have accused Kaiser of failing to invest in staffing despite a state-backed pay bump...