Nurses at 22 Kaiser facilities across the state held what was described as an informational picket, led by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), which represents nearly 25,000 Kaiser nurses.
"Nothing can replace the hands of a nurse," said Eric Newsom, an ICU nurse. "We are trained to take care of you. We're trained to take care of your family members.
The union also believes Kaiser is rolling out technologies in healthcare that are untested, leading to wage theft for nurses.
"If AI is to come into our jobs, we want it to improve the time we have with you, not to take the time away," said Newsom.
One Kaiser patient said the idea of AI could have its advantages but believes it would need better oversight.
"I think the nurses can guide them [with] what is going to be helpful for their work," said Mariliz Romero De Aquino.
Kaiser Permanente released a statement Tuesday, saying the union is using the protest as "an opportunity to gain visibility."
"This one-day informational picketing at our Los Angeles Medical Center is part of a national campaign, National Nurses United (NNU)/California Nurses Association (CNA) is conducting. We refute any allegations that this picketing is about concerns of care quality and service at Kaiser Permanente - CNA is simply using this day of action as an opportunity to gain visibility for their union.
Kaiser Permanente meets or exceeds staffing regulations, and we consistently deliver high-quality care to our members and patients. We are not in contract bargaining with CNA and these demonstrations are not part of a work stoppage and do not impact our care delivery or operations, which will continue as normal.
We reached agreement on a generous 4-year contract with CNA in 2022 that provides our nurses with competitive wages, excellent benefits, valuable professional opportunities and a work environment committed to their well-being and safety."
A union representative said they're up for contract negotiations next year and hope a fair deal can be reached.