4,000 healthcare workers set to strike Tuesday

Unless they secure a tentative agreement, healthcare workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington will strike next week — here’s how to support them

PORTLAND, OR (October 10, 2025) — After months of bargaining with little progress, multiple bargaining units of healthcare workers near Portland and along the I-5 corridor in Oregon and Southwest Washington are preparing to hit the strikeline on Tuesday unless Kaiser Permanente negotiates a tentative agreement on a new contract. Per a statement from the workers’ union, the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, the strike would start Oct. 14 and go no longer than five days.

Outstanding issues at the bargaining table include disagreement over patient care changes made by Kaiser, which workers report are creating longer wait times for appointments, giving patients less time with caregivers, and exacerbating retention and recruitment issues caused by a lack of competitive pay.

Nearly 4,000 healthcare workers in four different bargaining units could participate in the strike, including registered nurses, laboratory professionals, social workers, cancer counselors, audiologists, physical therapists and mental health therapists. Facilities potentially impacted include Sunnyside Medical Center east of Portland and Westside Medical Center west of Portland, along with several surgical centers and medical clinics spanning from Longview in Washington state to Eugene.

“We’re fighting to make sure Kaiser puts patients first—health care should be driven by our mission, not a desire for more profits” OFNHP President Sarina Roher said in a statement announcing the workers’ intent to strike. “Longer wait times for appointments and shorter times with caregivers undermines the quality of care. At Kaiser, our members provide the best care, if patients can get it in a timely manner.

“We want to get back to what Kaiser once stood for—a value system that puts patients first and a partnership with its caregivers,” continued Roher.

These Oregon and Southwest Washington nurses and healthcare workers are part of the 52,000 member-strong Alliance of Healthcare Unions negotiating with Kaiser across several states. Healthcare workers in California and Hawaii have also delivered strike notices for October 14, with as many as 31,000 workers set to walk out.

While healthcare workers are making every effort to reach a deal before Tuesday, they’re calling on fellow union members and working people to stand with them should they be forced to strike. Here are three ways to support the workers:

1. Sign the open letter to Kaiser CEO Greg Adams urging him to protect patient care and settle a fair contract.
2. Sign up to join the workers on the line (from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday)
3. Donate to the OFNHP hardship fund

Supporters can also sign up to get updates from OFNHP as the contract fight continues.