Kaiser Permanente Nurses Protest To Call Attention To Layoffs, AI Use In Hospitals
Nurses across 22 Kaiser Permanente facilities in California staged coordinated protests this week, showing a sweeping show of resistance. They wanted to spotlight what they call a dangerous shift in healthcare, which means layoffs of frontline staff and the growing use of artificial intelligence in patient care. The demonstrations, led by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, were not strikes. They are considered informational pickets because everything was designed to raise public awareness and pressure hospital leadership.
Layoffs and Staffing Cuts Are a Growing Concern
At the center of the protest is Kaiser’s plan to lay off 41 nurses in San Rafael next month. Nurses fear this is just the beginning of a broader trend across the state.
Gina Macalino, a registered nurse in Vacaville, warned, “Kaiser right now is attempting to lay off nurses in San Rafael and the outpatient setting, and we have a feeling that that is going to spread throughout”.
Kaiser Permanente responded by saying the layoffs are part of a “rebalance of resources” following the pandemic. A spokesperson confirmed that 21 of the affected nurses have already been redeployed and added, “Quality of care will not be affected”.
But nurses on the ground aren’t convinced. “Running us short and running us with a bare minimum, skeleton staff is not okay,” Macalino said. “They are raking in millions and billions of dollars in profits, and they need that money to go back to the bedside to help us take care of our patients”.
AI in Hospitals: Is It Help or Hazard?
The second major issue driving the protests is the use of artificial intelligence in clinical settings. Nurses say they are not against technology, but they are deeply concerned about how it’s being used.
Michelle Gutierrez Vo, RN and president of CNA, stated that “It is deeply troubling to see Kaiser promote itself as a leader in AI in healthcare, when we know their use of these technologies comes at the expense of patient care, all in service of boosting profits”.
Eric Newsom, an ICU nurse, also added that, “Nothing can replace the hands of a nurse. We are trained to take care of you. We’re trained to take care of your family members”.
Nurses argue that AI tools are being introduced without proper testing or oversight, and that they risk replacing human judgment and discretion. Macalino said, “We feel like the power of touch is healing to people, instead of a computer that can misdiagnose you,”.
Kaiser, however, insists that AI is not replacing nurses. In a statement, the organization said that “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”.
They also added, “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”.
What’s the Deeper Financial Context?
Kaiser Permanente is the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the fourth-largest globally. According to union sources, Kaiser increased its cash reserves from $40 billion to $60 billion during the pandemic years. Nurses say this financial strength makes the layoffs and tech-driven cost-cutting harder to justify.
Nurses claim that AI-driven scheduling and telehealth models are reducing their paid hours and undervaluing their labor. Gutierrez Vo. said that “Instead of looking to these untested technologies being pushed by corporate executives, Kaiser management should be working with us to ensure that issues like safe staffing and wage theft aren’t impacting patients and nurses,”.
A Broader Labor Movement
This protest is part of a larger wave of healthcare worker activism.
Just days before, 30,000 Kaiser professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, and therapists, authorized a strike through the UNAC/UHCP. Their demands include better staffing, fair pay, and respect at the bargaining table.
Charmaine S. Morales, RN and president of UNAC/UHCP, said, “Kaiser is betting we won’t unite and push for the change that patients need. This overwhelming vote proves them wrong.”
Beyond Jobs Or Machines, It’s All About The Future Of Care
Nurses are demanding a voice in how technology is used and calling out what they see as corporate decisions that put profits ahead of patients. As AI continues to enter hospitals, the question isn’t just what it can do, but who gets to decide how it’s used.
