Union outlines tentative agreement after calling off strike against Kaiser Permanente

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Hawaii health care workers union has canceled their strike against Kaiser Permanente after a tentative 4-year national agreement was reached on Saturday.

Kaiser Permanente said an agreement was made with the Alliance of Health Care Unions, which includes the Unite Here Local 5 union in Hawaii.

The union had planned to strike beginning Nov. 22, but it has since been canceled. The demonstration would have included nearly 2,000 Kaiser health care workers and impacted 20 Kaiser Permanente facilities in Hawaii.

In a statement, Kaiser said the tentative agreement maintains industry-leading wage and benefit packages for Alliance-represented employees.

According to UNITE HERE Local 5, the tentative agreement included wage increases through 2025, no reduction of healthcare benefits, and new standards for safe and adequate staffing.

“This victory is a result of years of organizing to ensure that when the time comes, Kaiser Permanente workers in Hawaii will be ready to join the fight. We are happy to achieve a tentative agreement that secures good wages and addresses staffing concerns, without sacrificing the future of our health care workers. This is for all of us,” said Maile Hamada from Kaiser Permanente Patient Financial Services.

Following the new contract, the union will now have to work with its membership to vote to ratify the agreement, which will take place in the coming weeks.

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This story will be updated.

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