Nearly 400 strikers participated in a major action today outside Kaiser headquarters in Pasadena. The event began with a food and toy distribution at the International Brother of Electrical Workers (IBEW) hall before a throng of strikers, more than a block deep, marched to Kaiser headquarters with a giant cardboard heart in tow.
Local pastors and State Senator Sasha Perez spoke at a rally outside Kaiser’s corporate offices. Afterwards, workers breached the security barricade and gathered at the front of the building chanting for Kaiser to “Settle it now!”
Addressing her colleagues in front of the building with a megaphone, Jade Rosado said, “So Kaiser, show us how you treat everyday heroes. All of you are everyday heroes.”
Gathered at the entrance to the building, many of the strikers held up a letter, signed by a majority of California Assembly members, calling on Kaiser to settle the contract on our terms (See below for details). They eventually left several of the letters on top of the heart for Kaiser to keep.
With support from allied unions, the event started with a successful food and toy drive, including presents for older kids. Everyone who wanted a toy for their kids, received one.
Letter Delivered
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas met with Kaiser executive Michelle Gaskill-Hames on Monday. It didn’t go well — for Kaiser. Gaskill-Hames parroted the same BS talking points that Kaiser put in its newspaper ads, but the Speaker came equipped with the facts about our strike. He also had with him a letter of support signed by a majority of the entire Assembly.
In case Kaiser wasn’t clear exactly where the Speaker and his colleagues stand in our fight, Rivas handed Gaskill-Hames the final version of his support letter signed by himself and 40 other members of the Assembly.
Take a look at the letter. If you see your Assembly member listed, call their office and thank them.
A letter from State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire that includes a majority of senators is in the works.
We’re poets; don’t ya know it
That big heart was a present to Kaiser since they’re acting heartless. It was presented to them with a poem that read:
Dear Kaiser misers and crew, a happy holiday to you,
Eight weeks now, we have persevered, 8 weeks we haven’t heard, but our cries for better patient care persist.
Just like in The Grinch, you’re unkind, uncaring, and never flinch, with a heart that’s a small sad sack.
Like yours, the Grinch’s heart was three sizes too small. In the face of your greed, we’ve stood tall and always have our patient’s backs.
Despite you being uncaring, we are not despairing.
Instead, we come bearing a gift. A heart big enough to defeat all your greed, a heart big enough to give your patients and workers the care they need,
A heart caring, a heart of gold, the kind of heart that shines when old, but fear not if it’s not enough because we’ll hold out, we are tough.
To all who gathered round to hear,
We say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have no fear.
For we will win, even if it takes until NEXT YEAR!!!!
Hardship funds
Hardship fund applications are due by Friday at 11:59 p.m. for disbursement on the following Friday. You can find the official rules for disbursement here and the application form here.
Be sure to share the donation links with your extended networks to ensure we have adequate funds for disbursement. Currently, weekly disbursements are being capped at $250. Please be patient as the committee works out our workflow and challenges with distributing such large amounts of money.
Picket line photos
See the gallery of photos below, and see more on NUHW’s social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
