Thousands of additional Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers joined an expanding labour strike in Southern California, forcing some pharmacies and outpatient laboratories operated by the health system to close temporarily or reduce hours.

The escalation follows action taken a day earlier, as more than 30,000 nurses and other healthcare professionals in California and Hawaii entered the third week of separate but related strikes that began on January 26.

Those workers were represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professions.

The expanded strike that began Monday also includes pharmacy and laboratory employees represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

The union said at least 3,000 of its members in Southern California, among them pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians, clinical lab scientists, and medical lab technicians, have joined the walkout.

According to the UFCW, the strike has affected dozens of Kaiser Permanente facilities across Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and Kern counties.

Kaiser Permanente said it has been shifting staff and adjusting operations since the initial strike began to keep health centres open, stressing that hospitals and most medical offices will continue to operate.

The company said patient care would continue, although some appointments may be converted to virtual visits and non-urgent procedures could be delayed.

Kaiser also acknowledged that certain pharmacies and laboratories would be temporarily closed.

Union leaders said pharmacy and lab workers joined the picket lines after Kaiser Permanente management withdrew from negotiations last month.

In a statement, the UFCW accused the company of committing unfair labour practices and obstructing good-faith negotiations, saying talks have been stalled for more than a month.

UFCW and other unions within the Alliance of Health Care Unions filed charges with the National Labour Relations Board in December, alleging Kaiser Permanente unlawfully refused to bargain and attempted to bypass a national bargaining framework in place since spring 2025.

Geraldine Doronio, a certified registered nurse anaesthetist at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Centre in Hawaii and a member of the UNAC/UHCP bargaining team, said management has been unresponsive.

“Our bargaining teams have reached out for dates multiple times with absolutely no response, not even a courtesy reply,” Ms Doronio told reporters. “They say they don’t want national bargaining, but they are also ignoring requests for local bargaining.”

Kaiser Permanente disputed the unions’ claims and said it is negotiating in good faith.

In a statement responding to the UFCW strike notice, the company said pharmacy and lab employees already earn significantly more than comparable workers at other healthcare organisations.

The company described the strikes as unnecessary and disruptive, arguing they undermine progress toward reaching agreements.

Kaiser officials also said some employees are reluctant to return to work because they fear being fined by their unions.

“They will make health care less affordable for Kaiser Permanente members and customers, with far-reaching implications for health care costs in every market we serve,” the company said.

It added that it is disappointing that union leaders chose to strike, given the potential impact on patient access and experience.

Susan M., a Kaiser Permanente patient, urged both sides to return to negotiations.

“They have all got to come back to the table and negotiate in good faith. Lives literally depend on it,” Ms Susan said.

(Xinhua/NAN)