The two sides are not yet aligned on wage increases, which are typically negotiated last, but the union said this strike is about seeking agreement on the non-economic issues first. A spokesperson said the union is still engaged in sporadic bargaining sessions with Kaiser and is set to meet with the company for another session next week.
In a statement, Kaiser said that AI tools are designed to “support — not replace — human judgment and care,” and that technology is evaluated for performance, safety, clinical usability, accuracy, equitability and satisfaction.
“We believe AI has the potential to help clinicians and employees spend more time focused on patient care, improve the patient experience, and enhance fairness and quality in health outcomes,” spokesperson Lena Howland said via email. “Human assessment and clinical expertise always guide care delivery.”
The union will finalize voting to authorize the strike over the weekend and said as of Thursday, about 70% of the membership had cast votes.
If it garners member support, the union plans to schedule the work stoppage for later in March. They must give 10 days’ advance notice.
Kaiser mental health care workers and supporters march from Oakland Kaiser Medical Center to Kaiser’s corporate headquarters on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
After striking for 10 weeks without pay over their last contract, then seeing their sister union in Southern California call an open-ended strike that lasted more than six months, appetite for anything more than a one-day walkout was low this time around.
“It doesn’t seem like members are that jazzed about an ongoing, open-ended strike,” Parsons said. “There’s a fear, not only for how that would impact us as clinicians, but a fear of how it would impact our clients and patient care. And so, a one-day strike, we’re hoping to get more people involved.”
That will have less negative impact on patients, she added, “but it will show Kaiser that we’re serious about this.”
KQED’s Katie DeBenedetti contributed to this report.