Mental health workers represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers prepared for the strike over the weekend after declining Kaiser’s terms on Friday.

Kaiser in a written statement said it is notifying patients whose appointments could be affected by the strike. “Patients will have the opportunity to be seen by another professional in our extensive network of highly qualified, licensed therapists, if their regular provider is engaged in a strike,” the statement read.

The previous strike in 2022 among mental health clinicians in Northern California lasted 10 weeks and led to a commitment from Kaiser to hire more therapists and to give employees specific work hours away from face-to-face patient care.

Southern California Kaiser workers now are asking for more time in between appointments to prepare for patients. They also want wage increase and a pension benefit that the company provides to its Northern California clinicians. 

“It’s pretty simple,” said psychological social worker William Johnson, a union steward who serves on the bargaining committee. “We’re looking for the same three top priorities that Kaiser already said ‘Yes’ to for our Northern California mental healthcare workers.”

Johnson said his current workload includes seeing 32 to 35 patients a week in one-hour sessions.

Kaiser released a statement in response to the union’s plans to strike, saying, “unfortunately this comes as no surprise, as this seems to have been their intention all along.”

The company has offered wage increases amounting to 18% over four years and a number of other perks, according to the statement. Kaiser representatives said they have invested more than a billion dollars expanding mental health capabilities in California and increased the number of  licensed mental health clinicians in Southern California by 30% over the past four years.

But union members say turnover has been a problem, with a quarter of therapists hired between January 2021 and August 2024 leaving their jobs. 

“Kaiser leadership has consistently been dismissive whenever we voice our concerns or experiences,” said Johnson. “They like to tell us things like, ‘We get that it’s not ideal,’ and they also add, ‘But it works for us.’”

Jared Garcia, another union steward on the bargaining committee, said he’s hoping the strike lasts less than a month, but he’s prepared to see it go on as long as it takes.

“Scabs aren’t going to work,” said Garcia. “Kaiser knows the limitations of finding mental health professionals – let alone to replace 2,400 of our union members at this time.”

A year ago, Kaiser entered into a $200 million settlement agreement with the state of California, agreeing to pay a $50 million fine and invest another $150 million over five years to address delays in behavioral health appointments.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Community meetings focused on how to improve the delivery of mental health services in Riverside County will be held next week, with an open invitation to residents to take part and share opinions.

“Engagement and input from residents are crucial to shaping effective and responsive behavioral health services,” Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health Director Dr. Matthew Chang said. “We encourage everyone to participate to help guide the future of behavioral health care in Riverside County.”

Officials will specifically solicit input on proposed changes to the local Mental Health Services Plan, a product of voter-approved Proposition 63 from 2004, which resulted in increased income tax assessments on residents earning more than $1 million annually to pay for expanded therapeutic resources.

The county is seeking to expand and reconfigure some of the mental health services prescribed by Prop 63, including components related to early intervention for youth suffering depression, programs for children with disabilities and suicide prevention.

“Through the in-person and remote forums, residents can delve into the MHSA Plan and associated programs, ask questions and share their feedback,” according to an RUHS statement. “All comments will be incorporated into the plan submitted to the county Board of Supervisors and the California Department of Health Care Services. This … ensures the voices of residents directly influence local behavioral health services.”

The forums are scheduled on the following dates and at the following locations:

— Tuesday, May 28, 3-7 p.m., Moreno Valley Conference & Recreation Center, 14075 Frederick St.; and

— Thursday, May 30, 3-5 p.m., Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, 47-470 Van Buren St., Indio.

Recordings of the meetings will be made available via RUHS’ social media pages, which can be viewed at https://www.ruhealth.org/behavioral-health/MHSA.

Further details can be found at www.RUhealth.org, or by calling 951- 955-7198.

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