Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers began a three-day strike Jan. 27 at Kindred Hospitals in Brea and Westminster, Calif., according to a union news release shared with Becker’s.
The union represents 155 workers at Kindred Hospital Brea and 160 workers at Kindred Hospital Westminster, including nurses, nursing assistants, housekeepers and respiratory therapists. Kindred Hospitals, a Louisville, Ky.-based network of long-term acute care hospitals, is part of ScionHealth, a healthcare company formed in December 2021 following Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Health’s acquisition of Kindred Healthcare.
Union members previously voted to authorize the strike. The union and hospitals have been in negotiations for more than five months over a new labor contract, according to the release.
Union officials said Kindred’s wage proposals fall below the current inflation rate, contributing to high turnover and chronic understaffing.
“We’re seeking a contract that will help us better support our families and better care for our patients,” Elias Hernandez, a monitor technician at Kindred Hospital Brea, said in the release.
In a statement shared with Becker’s, Kindred said: “We remain fully committed to bargaining in good faith to reach an agreement that supports our employees, protects our patients, and ensures the long‑term stability of our hospitals.
“This week’s strike was a planned event and is a common activity during the bargaining process. Our hospitals remain fully operational, and we have comprehensive plans in place to ensure safe staffing and uninterrupted patient care at all times.”
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.