Mental Health Workers to Strike Monday: Kaiser, Union Reps Sound Off

More than 1,400 Kaiser Permanente mental health workers will report to picket lines Monday, rather than their offices. Kaiser and the union representing the workers, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, agree on that. It’s about the only thing on which they see eye-to-eye.

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The union says that it’s striking over care issues and retaliation.

Kaiser says the workers are striking over money.

Senior Vice President of Human Resources Gay Westfall said Friday in a release, “Kaiser Permanente therapists already lead the market in wages, and we are already offering substantial wage increases and continued benefits that will keep our therapists among the best compensated in their profession.”

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The union claims it’s striking because of understaffing and retaliation against its workers who advocate on behalf of patients.

“Kaiser’s retaliation against its mental health clinicians for their patient advocacy is outrageous,” said NUHW President Sal Rosselli when union members voted to strike. “They’ve harassed and fired respected psychologists, withheld standard pay increases given to 100,000 other Kaiser employees, and are trying to drastically cut their retirement benefits.”

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The two sides are also at odds over continuing care of patients during the strike. Patients have received phone calls canceling upcoming appointments, which the union decries. NUHW quotes Clement Papazian, a psychiatric social worker at Kaiser Oakland, “It is unsafe to make blanket cancellations of mental health treatments. It is no less irresponsible than making blanket cancellations of oncology or cardiology appointments.”

Kaiser countered with Mason Turner, MD, director of Outpatient Services for Regional Mental Health, “Many therapists are rightly concerned about the union’s tactics and irresponsible call for this strike. The first rule of the medical profession is ‘do no harm.’ These actions by NUHW are clearly not taken in the spirit of this most important principle of care.”

Other Kaiser Services

What if you have Kaiser insurance but you’re not currently receiving mental health services? You shouldn’t see any impact.

According to the health care provider, “Kaiser Permanente wants to assure our members that our medical centers will be open during the strike. We do not expect disruption to hospital and most outpatient services and we will ensure that there are no problems entering or exiting our buildings.”

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The union plans to picket at various locations over the next week including Walnut Creek, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Roseville, Santa Rosa, Vallejo, Santa Clara, San Rafael, San Leandro and Redwood

--Image via Kaiser Permanente