Midwives, nurse anesthetists plan one-day strike, including 165 in Sacramento
Hundreds of recently-unionized Kaiser Permanente health care workers plan to hold a one-day strike on Sept. 8, as they push the hospital system to reach a contract.
The group includes 600 nurse anesthetists and midwives across northern California, including 165 at Kaiser’s three Sacramento-area hospitals, the union said.
The workers joined the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals in 2023. Contract talks began in early 2024. The union held an informational rally at the health system’s Roseville hospital in March.
The one-day strike will begin at 7 a.m. Sept. 8.
Sanne Jacobsen, a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Kaiser East Bay, said her pay hasn’t kept up with other employers in the area, and the scope of nurse anesthetists’ responsibilities at her hospital has shrunk, which makes them less attractive candidates for jobs elsewhere.
Hannah Bronsky Peña, a certified nurse midwife at Kaiser facilities in the Napa-Solano area, said she wants better working conditions and compensation, so that more people are attracted to work as midwives at Kaiser.
“We love providing this care,” Bronsky Peña said. “We want to be able to continue doing it in a way that feels just, in a way that feels fair… We’re really doing this because we believe that a strong workforce that has a voice and is fairly compensated will improve the health of the system overall.”
The health system said it is bargaining in good faith and called the union’s strike decision “disappointing” in a statement Friday afternoon. It said Kaiser’s hospitals and medical offices will remain open, but it may have to postpone some appointments and surgeries. Staff will notify any patient who is affected.
The health system said it has multiple bargaining meetings scheduled with the union this month.
“We’re confident that we’ll address key issues and reach an agreement that supports the financial security of our employees and affordability for our members, and reinforces Kaiser Permanente as a best place to work and receive care,” the statement said.
This story was originally published August 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM.
