Kaiser mental health workers strike ending with tentative agreement reached

Mental health clinicians represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers reached a tentative agreement today with Kaiser Permanente on a three-year contract, bringing the nearly six-month strike to a conclusion, according to a news release from the union.

The strike, which lasted 172 days, is the longest work stoppage by mental healthcare workers in U.S. history.

The approximately 50 Kaiser Permanente psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses and chemical dependency counselors represented by the union in Hawai’i will review the tentative agreement and participate in a ratification vote, after which details of the agreement will be made available.

Therapists will return to work on Tuesday, and picket lines will be halted as of today.

The mental health clinicians expressed their grievances during the strike, including on the Big Island.