Kaiser Permanente nurses in Oregon, SW Washington take strike authorization vote

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health professionals in Oregon and Southwest Washington could see a picket line in their future after launching a strike authorization vote Monday morning.

The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, alongside the national Alliance of Healthcare Unions, has spent six months bargaining with Kaiser on wages, working conditions, and “the future of care,” according to union members.

If authorized, team leadership could call for a strike any time after contracts expire on Sept. 30. 

The strike would include OFNHP’s registered nurses, professionals, and lab professionals at Kaiser Westside Medical Center, Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, and clinics and facilities across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

“We are committed to exhausting every option before we call a strike,” said Sarina Roher, President of OFNHP. “However, if management continues to deny real solutions, then a strike becomes not our choice, but our responsibility — to protect our members and the patients we serve.”

This comes as Kaiser workers across eight states also consider a strike.

Kaiser Permanente shared the following statement with KOIN 6 News:

Since May, we have been negotiating in good faith with the Alliance of Health Care Unions on a new national agreement to replace the current agreement, which expires September 30, 2025. We remain optimistic that we will be able to reach a fair agreement that supports our employees, maintains our position as a best place to work, and helps ensure access to affordable, high-quality care for our members. Our current offer (as of September 12, 2025) provides Alliance-represented employees strong across-the-board wage increases totaling 20% over the 4 years of the contract, including a historic first-year increase. We are offering enhancements to the already generous benefits and retirement programs we provide, retiree medical benefits which fewer companies are offering, and educational resources to support employees to grow their careers with us. When combined, these elements create a package that supports employees and their long-term security.  

It’s important to understand that a strike authorization vote is a common bargaining tactic used to rally union members. It does not mean a strike is inevitable and operations at our facilities continue as usual. Under current labor laws, a union is required to provide at least 10 days’ notice before initiating a strike. As of now, no such notice has been received. We take any threat to disrupt care for our members seriously and have robust plans to ensure our members and patients will have continued access to high-quality care in the event of a work stoppage. 

Allegations about staffing and care quality do not reflect the facts. Kaiser Permanente meets — and often exceeds — mandated nurse-to-patient ratios and staffing standards. In 2024, we added more than 6,300 new employees, including nearly 4,700 in care delivery and over 1,600 in Alliance-represented roles. In addition, our integrated care model is nationally recognized for delivering better outcomes: our members experience significantly lower rates of premature death from heart disease and cancer. U.S. News & World Report has recognized our Sunnyside Medical Center as a Best Regional Hospital, rating it “high performing” in 16 areas of care. Both Sunnyside and Westside Medical Centers have also been named Best Hospitals for Maternity Care. Additionally, no health plan – private or Medicare – is rated higher than Kaiser Permanente in Oregon and Washington, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

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