Surgeries delayed, chemo canceled, Kaiser patients say, as nurses walk off job in massive strike

Distressed patients who had surgeries and vital treatment postponed due to a massive strike by California health care workers expressed their frustration as the action got under way Tuesday.

The action saw tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses, physicians assistants, rehab specialists and more walk off the job at 7 a.m. over wages and staff levels, leaving many patients questioning how to access vital medical care.

“My surgery on the 27th got postponed. And it was a surgery that would greatly help my mobility. I’m so upset. I’ve already been waiting almost 4 months for this,” one user wrote on a lengthy Reddit thread that saw hundreds of people weigh in on the strike.

Another patient, who said he had a surgery scheduled for January 29 in Southern California, added that he “just got the call it might get cancelled.”

“I’ve been through chemo and know how important it is to stay on schedule. So, why, if the importance of getting my labs and infusions on time and as planned was emphasized to me by Kaiser during normal times, why is it OK to cancel infusions during a strike?” one wrote.

“As an ALS patient this strike will affect the care I get while I continue to pay my full premium,” another added.

Tens of thousands of California health care workers began striking Monday morning amid a long-simmering battle with employer Kaiser Permanente over wages and staffing levels.

Members of the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals — which represents more than 40,000 registered nurses and health workers across California and Hawaii — began the strike after contract talks with Kaiser stalled at the end of 2025.

Workers have accused the health care giant of failing to invest in staff, despite the company offering a state-backed pay bump.

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Kaiser recently offered a 21% wage increase to health workers, fueling union claims that management has the resources to hire more staff but has chosen not to.