Glendale, Calif. – The leading voice for social workers in California is standing with Kaiser mental health professionals and calling on Kaiser Permanente to address their “critical issues” as the Kaiser Mental Health Strike enters its third day in Southern California.
In a written statement to members on Tuesday, Kimberly Warmsley, the California chapter executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, said:
“The time is now to ensure realistic working conditions and provide equitable pay and recognition for professionals who deliver essential services. Social workers and therapists were on the frontlines during the pandemic; we are trusted partners and advocates for our communities. Kaiser must exemplify the commitment to providing resources, support, and fair compensation for dedicated social workers who strive to protect vulnerable populations.”
The organization’s statement added:
“We applaud the unwavering dedication of every social worker at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California who is standing up so boldly against a broken mental health system that forces patients to wait months for therapy appointments, violating state laws.”
Wednesday, Oct. 23 Picket Line Locations
Mental health professionals, represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, will walk picket lines from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the following locations:
- San Diego Medical Center, 9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego
- Fontana Medical Center, 9961 Sierra Ave., Fontana
- Lancaster Medical Offices, 43112 15th St. West, Lancaster
- Downey Medical Center, 9333 Imperial Highway, Downey
There will be a lunchtime rally with community and elected leaders at all four strike locations. Click here for a full list of picket line locations and times for the first two weeks of the strike and here for a fact sheet about the strike.
Professional organizations have strongly supported Kaiser mental health professionals in their long struggle to force Kaiser to put behavioral health on equal footing with its other services. Four years ago, the American Psychological Society told California regulators that Kaiser’s wait times were the worst it had seen.
“As a social worker, it means a lot to know that my professional organization stands with me and my colleagues in our struggle to make Kaiser achieve parity for behavioral health care,” said Elizabeth White, a psychiatric social worker for Kaiser in Los Angeles. “This strike is about finally making Kaiser respect and honor the work that all of its mental health professionals do so that we’ll finally have enough workers and resources to meet the needs of our patients.”
Contract negotiations resume
Contract negotiations will resume Wednesday for the first time since the strike began. Another session is scheduled for Friday. Both sides remain far apart on the critical issue of providing mental health professionals with enough time to meet all of the patient care responsibilities that can’t be done during appointments.
To reach an agreement ending a 10-week strike in Northern California two years ago, Kaiser management in that region agreed to guarantee its full-time mental health therapists 7 hours per week for important patient care duties that can’t be done during appointments, such as returning patient calls and emails, contacting social service agencies, developing treatment plans and preparing for therapy sessions.
While workers are seeking the same 7-hour guarantee in Southern California, Kaiser is only willing to guarantee 4 hours, leaving patients in Southern California with therapists who are often rushed from one appointment to another without enough time to prepare for therapy sessions and provide the full spectrum of care.
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The National Union of Healthcare Workers is a member-led movement that represents 19,000 healthcare workers in California and Hawaii, including more than 4,700 Kaiser mental health professionals.
