Mental health clinicians represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers reached a tentative agreement Thursday with Kaiser Permanente on a three-year contract, bringing the nearly six-month strike to a conclusion.
The strike, which lasted 172 days, is the longest work stoppage by mental health care workers in U.S. history.
The approximately 50 Kaiser Permanente psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses and chemical dependency counselors represented by NUHW in Hawaii 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 were be halted Thursday.
“Kaiser Permanente has the deepest appreciation and gratitude for our mental health professionals and the extraordinary care they provide to our members so we are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with NUHW,” said a statement released by Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.
“Our mental health staff represented by NUHW will now vote on the new agreement, and we look forward to hearing from the union regarding ratification status.”
