UNAC/UHCP says 31,000 nurses return in California and Hawaii; Kaiser says union leaders accepted its 21.5% wage offer
Thirty-one thousand Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care professionals in California and Hawaii ended a nearly monthlong strike and will return to work Tuesday after “significant movement” at the bargaining table, their union said. The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals reported agreements on staffing, workload and safety. Kaiser said UNAC/UHCP leadership accepted its offer of across-the-board 21.5% wage increases first proposed in October, while local bargaining with Alliance unions continues. Picketing has ceased, and workers are due back at facilities Tuesday morning.
In the United States, Kaiser mental health workers voted to authorize a one-day strike over alleged unfair labor practices, and Portland Community College unions approved a strike authorization with a legal start as early as March 10 that would be the first at an Oregon community college if called. Separately, in Israel, Zim employees ended a strike after progress in talks amid an agreement in principle tied to Hapag-Lloyd’s planned acquisition that includes at least $300 million for severance. Together, the reports document simultaneous settlements and new strike authorizations across health care, education and shipping.