Kaiser Permanente has announced another round of layoffs affecting hundreds of employees across California, deepening tensions with workers as thousands prepare to strike next week.
According to state filings, the nonprofit health care provider will cut more than 200 positions across 15 hospitals and clinics. The layoffs took effect Sept. 17 and were disclosed in WARN notices filed Monday with the California Employment Development Department.
Affected facilities include major sites in Oakland, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Pasadena and Redwood City, as well as smaller locations in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties. Kaiser said the job reductions are part of ongoing efforts to “rebalance resources” and adapt to changing patient volumes and rising costs.
The cuts follow rounds of layoffs this year that have touched nearly every department.
A Kaiser spokesperson said the company notified 184 employees in Northern California that their positions were being eliminated, mostly in IT and food services roles, as part of the latest round of layoffs.
“We do not make these decisions lightly,” said Lena Howland, senior media relations and PR representative for Kaiser Permanente Northern California. “The people affected have made important contributions to Kaiser Permanente, and we’re helping them transition into other roles where possible.”
Howland added, “It is important to note that none of these changes will affect the quality of KaiserĀ Permanente’s patient care and service, which is always our primary focus.”
Kaiser said it employs about 180,000 people in California.
More than 30,000 nurses and health professionals plan to walk off the job Tuesday in what could be the largest strike in the company’s history.
Kaiser, headquartered in Oakland, said it continues to negotiate “in good faith” with labor unions and insisted that “none of these changes will impact the quality of patient care and services.”
This article originally published at Kaiser Permanente cuts hundreds of jobs across California as historic strike nears.
