Kaiser Permanente strike in California and Hawaii ends after four weeks; workers return Tuesday morning

Walkout ends as union issues unconditional return-to-work notice

More than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care professionals in California and Hawaii are set to return to work Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, ending an open-ended strike that lasted nearly four weeks. The union representing the workers said it issued an unconditional return-to-work notice after what it described as significant movement in bargaining during the past 48 hours.

The strike is scheduled to conclude at 7 a.m. Tuesday in both California and Hawaii. Union officials said there would be no picket lines Monday as the union and Kaiser Permanente finalize return-to-work arrangements.

What the dispute has centered on: wages and staffing

The labor action began in late January after contract negotiations stalled, with the union pressing for pay increases and staffing-related protections. Union leaders have framed chronic understaffing as a patient-care issue as well as a workplace issue, arguing it contributes to burnout and turnover.

Wages have also been a central point of disagreement. The union has sought a 25% wage increase over four years, citing inflation and pay competitiveness. Kaiser Permanente has said it proposed a 21.5% increase over four years, describing it as a major wage offer within its bargaining history.

• Workers involved: Registered nurses and other clinical professionals, including pharmacists, midwives, and rehabilitation therapists.
• Geography: Kaiser facilities in California and Hawaii.
• Return timing: 7 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026; no picketing on Monday, Feb. 23.

Operational impact during the strike

Kaiser facilities remained open during the walkout, though some services were modified. Patients experienced rescheduled procedures and adjustments in appointment formats in some locations as the system relied on management staff and contracted clinicians to maintain operations.

What happens next: negotiations continue without a finalized contract

While the strike is ending, the labor dispute is not necessarily resolved. The union’s announcement did not include terms of a new agreement, and a finalized contract had not been publicly disclosed at the time the return-to-work plan was announced. Bargaining is expected to continue after workers return.

The union said recent bargaining progress led it to conclude that returning caregivers to work was the clearest path toward reaching a final agreement.

Broader context for Kaiser labor talks

The end of the February walkout follows earlier labor tensions involving Kaiser Permanente workers, including a limited-duration strike in 2025 that ended with negotiations continuing. Kaiser Permanente, headquartered in Oakland, is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems and health plans, serving more than 12 million members through hospitals and medical offices largely concentrated in Western states.

For patients in San Diego and across the affected regions, the immediate change is the restoration of regular staffing levels as workers return to their posts Tuesday morning, with longer-term outcomes dependent on whether the sides can translate recent bargaining movement into a ratified contract.