COLORADO SPRINGS — Its the largest healthcare strike in US history as 75,000 Kaiser Permenente workers walked out or refused to show up to work Wednesday.
More than 3,000 union workers took part in Colorado.
"What do we want? Contracts! When do we want it? Now," shouted about 30 strikers in Colorado Springs.
They waved signed and chanted for better pay and working conditions.
The Union called SEIU Local 105 told Kaiser they would go on strike if they couldn't agree on a new contract.
"Even though bargaining started in April, it seems like kaiser is just not listening to their workers," said a strike captain Matthew Glatt-Paulison.
They told me getting a fair wage is a start to solve a lot of their problems.
"To be able to support our families, we need that, it brings strong people, that way we retain them so patients are taken care of, we are not so stressed every single day," said striker Meladee Zeller.
A Kaiser Permanente representative said their pay is at or up to 10% above the market rate.
A few of these workers have been with Kaiser for years and tell me the pay has not kept up with the cost of living.
They also say they are feeling burned out because of staffing shortages.
"Felt like we couldn't take care of the patients the way we used to and the way that we want to," said Glatt-Paulison.
The company says they expect to hire ten thousand more employees nationwide by the end of October. This is corrected from the video, which said in Colorado only.
Union reps chose to strike for three days to get Kaiser's attention with hopes of little patient impact.
"My patients deserve the absolute best, so I know me being out here these three days will of course impact their care, but they've been impacted for so long that this is the least we can do," said striker Emily Barrera.
Kaiser Permanente and the Union are still at the bargaining table. Meanwhile these workers are waiting for an agreement they don't believe will be reached before the three-day strike ends.
The union's President Stephanie Felix-Sowy said this is the first time they have given a strike notice to Kaiser in their 26-year partnership.
"Kaiser executives are failing patients now, they're failing their employees right now," said Felix-Sowy.
Kaiser Permanente declined an on-camera interview.
"I know a number of clinics who have already canceled, rescheduled patients for those days so yet again, our patients are getting delay of care," said Barrera.
In an email, Sorenson said they "have plans in place to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care should a strike actually occur."
"I've heard Kaiser say it's a tactic, it absolutely is a tactic, like I said this is their right," said Felix-Sowy.
"[A pay raise] would mean I could get my car fixed, I wouldn't have to worry about how I'm going to get to work everyday," said Barrera.
Sorenson said Kaiser's philosophy is to pay workers at or up to 10% above local market.
He said they are accelerating hiring with a joint goal of hiring 10,000 new union workers in 2023.
Barrera said she hopes they can find common ground so that a strike can be avoided. "It would mean everything, it's honestly the last thing any of us want to do."
Kaiser Permente is the largest non-profit health provider in Colorado. There are three medical offices in Colorado Springs and two in Pueblo.
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