With low unemployment and record-high popular support for unions and workers, the balance of power between employers and workers is shifting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
CONTACT: Sara Loflin, Executive Director at [email protected]

DENVER: As thousands of Kaiser Permanente Colorado employees went on strike Wednesday to fight against chronic short staffing caused by unfair labor practices, ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest multi-issue progressive advocacy organization, announced their full support for the largest strike by healthcare workers in American history with the following statement:

“Chronic understaffing at healthcare facilities is a choice made by corporate bean-counters who put profits over patients and the healthcare workers we all rely on,” said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Sara Loflin. “A majority of Kaiser employees say they have witnessed delays in patient care due to understaffing. Failure to make the proper investment in human resources doesn’t just hurt workers doing more with less–it hurts patients too. That’s why we all have an interest in supporting Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers as they demand better.”

“Workers, both in unions and not, are seeing union workers pushing for more–and winning,” said Loflin. “After victories by UFCW members negotiating with King Soopers, the Writers Guild’s recent victory putting Hollywood partly back to work, and the Teamsters’ historic new agreement with UPS, we’re in a new era of boldness from working America, demanding a level playing field for younger workers while protecting those nearing retirement age.”

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