Mental health therapists and nurses at Kaiser Permanente in their fifth week of striking for improved working conditions have called on state regulators to prevent the health care provider from using temporary replacement workers which they claim could postpone patient care during the strike.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers filed a complaint with the state’s Department of Managed Health Care on behalf of the striking employees on Friday, arguing that Kaiser planned to temporarily hire unqualified licensed vocational nurses during the strike.
Current state law requires health care providers to offer a follow-up mental health therapy session within 10 business days of an initial session unless a licensed therapist determines that a longer wait time between sessions would not harm the patient.
Kaiser’s temporary workers, according to the complaint, would be tasked with determining whether patients require a follow-up therapy session within 10 days of their initial session. The NUHW argued doing so would violate state law.
“It’s time for the state to do its job and enforce the law so Kaiser Permanente patients aren’t wrongfully denied the mental health care they need,” NUHW President Sal Rosselli said in a statement.
More than 2,000 therapists, psychologists, social workers and addiction counselors have picketed Kaiser locations in the Bay Area since Aug. 15, when the NUHW said labor talks deteriorated.
According to the union, workers accepted a pay structure offer from Kaiser management, but the health care provider declined to accept proposals requiring increased staffing and reduced appointment wait times.
Kaiser Permanente called the strike “unnecessary” in a statement and suggested the NUHW is pushing workers to picket and “make mischaracterized or unfounded allegations.”
Kaiser also argued that the nurses and clinicians that are working temporarily during the strike have done so on short notice and solely in an effort to ensure that patient care is not interrupted.
“Contrary to NUHW’s allegations, the nurses are not providing clinical assessments or making appointments, and they are not making any judgments with respect to the care that has already been provided,” Kaiser said of the temporary workers. “Only our licensed behavioral health clinical experts review the patient’s care, assess what is needed for the patient, and work to provide the care to the patient.”
Union and Kaiser officials are expected to resume bargaining talks on Wednesday.
Until then, workers are expected to strike at medical centers in San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, Vallejo and Walnut Creek from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The strike will continue until the two sides reach a new bargaining agreement, according to the NUHW.
12 comments
Sounds like Kaiser is getting close to giving their last, best, and final offer.
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These striking union workers are causing more harm to their clients than they realize by not providing ANY care or counseling.
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Incongruous to their vocation and mission, eh?
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Yep. Just like when teachers strike or bargain to fake teach for 2 years over zoom.
Exit 12A They are doing just the opposite. Kaiser has oversold it’s ability to handle customers. They don’t get enough time to see a patient and it takes too long to get an appointment. It is the same in the medical field. It takes too long to get an appointment even if you are sick unless you want to get checked into a hospital. They have more patients than the ability to see them in a reasonable time. Those on strike want help. Their wages are settled.
All is not as bad as it seems it being told. We know too many Kaiser workers and patients as well and have been listening to both sides, it’s a lopsided argument and a no win situation for either side.
Kaiser is not the only organization with it’s stories such as this, and then you throw a snobbish bs union in the mix and then it’s a whole nother problem.
First of all get rid of the union, when an acquaintance went on strike in the 80’s because the union demanded they do so they were out for a lengthy strike that accomplished nothing but lost wages and it took years to get them back with yearly bonuses and raises already in place to get. In short order their union got em screwed.
For the record we know quite a few people patients that use this particular departments that are striking and not a one of them has ever (even during strikes) has ever been shorted time in their appointments or getting appointments.
People need to realize the unions are in it for themselves no one else!
Forgot to add, probably half of all mental patients seen don’t need to be seen and you can take that comment however you like but it’s true.
Are you a Kaiser member? Or just anti union?
“probably half of all mental patients seen don’t need to be seen” You base that statement on what exactly?
I have a tremendous amount of experience with mental health therapists and nurses & I must say it’s ironic, but this whole situation is nuts.
Good thing Wildlife Rescues are nursing Squirrels back to health.
If you are Kaiser member you will know if you get sick you may get well by the time they can see you. Stop blaming the unions. Kaiser has more patients than the ability to take care of them in a timely manner.
Ricardoh +1
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