23 healthcare workers arrested for protesting Kaiser Permanente staffing policies
Healthcare workers protesting Kaiser Permanente Hospital on Labor Day were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department for "civil disobedience" after the protest was deemed unlawful. The workers, represented by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, were demonstrating against Kaiser, one of the nation's largest healthcare systems, due to alleged unfair labor practices, including unsafe staffing levels.
The protests were held at the popular W Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles to raise public awareness of ongoing worker complaints and a looming strike. According to coverage from KTLA5, after weeks of escalating tension, tens of thousands of Kaiser employees began the process of authorizing a historic healthcare strike in response to the ongoing dispute. Photographs shared by both the union and the LAPD depicted protesters forming a circle, blocking the road as part of their demonstration.
A total of 23 individuals were arrested and subsequently released after being cited for civil disobedience, a figure confirmed by the healthcare workers union.
Monday's protest was part of a broader series of demonstrations taking place at medical facilities across the state. In a statement released by the union, workers expressed their exhaustion and frustration after years of the pandemic and chronic understaffing, stating that healthcare providers were failing both workers and patients.
According to a recent poll of 33,000 healthcare provider employees, two-thirds reported personally witnessing care delays or denials due to understaffing. The union also highlighted the fact that many of its members were living in their cars while Kaiser, a nonprofit organization, reported $3 billion in profits in the first half of 2023.
The demonstration on Monday was co-sponsored by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and featured speeches from healthcare workers, California labor leaders, and elected officials.
In response, a Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said in a statement to KTLA5 that the organization's “committed to providing a positive, safe, and equitable work environment and to being a best place to work.”
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Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.