Ontario Kaiser nurses return to work following largest open-ended health care strike in US history
Health care workers gather outside the Kaiser Permanente Ontario Medical Center on Feb. 19, 2026. (Yulianna Arzate)
By Yulianna Arzate
Posted: March 3, 2026 / 9:15 AM PST
After more than four weeks on the picket line, nurses and health care workers at Kaiser Permanente Ontario Medical Center have returned to work with negotiations still ongoing between the union and health care provider.
The strike ended on Feb. 24 with Kaiser healthcare workers set to return to work over multiple days at Southern California facilities, according to Kaiser. The Ontario facility, located at 2295 S. Vineyard Ave., was just one of many KP facilities across California and Hawaii that held regularly scheduled rallies, dating back to Jan. 26 when contract negotiations first stalled.
The work stoppage, according to the union, marks the "largest open-ended strike of registered nurses and health care professionals in United States history."
Nurses on the Ontario picket line said bargaining began nearly a year ago, with their contract expiring in October, and Kaiser has yet to agree to key proposals regarding staffing ratios, break relief and wages.
Nicole Jimenez, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit and inpatient hospital president for the Ontario unit, said unsafe staffing levels were a core reason for walking out.
"We're fighting for safe staffing and manageable workloads," Jimenez said. "COVID really brought to light how short-staffed we are."
Jimenez, who frequently attended the picket line in Ontario, said nurses are asking Kaiser to adhere to contractual staffing ratios and bring in additional support staff, including certified nursing assistants and monitor technicians. She added that some nurses are working 12-hour shifts without proper breaks.
Kaiser Permanente said it has proposed a 21.5% wage increase — its strongest national bargaining offer ever — and that it remains focused on reaching agreements that recognize employees' contributions while ensuring high-quality, affordable care.
Sonia Manzano, a charge nurse in labor and delivery and union secretary who has worked at Kaiser for 23 years, said the strike is about more than wages.
"They're telling the media we're being greedy," she said. "But this isn't about the money. It's about protecting the profession and protecting our patients."
Manzano also claimed that limited appointment availability has created delays for patients.
"Patients are waiting two to three months for regular appointments," Manzano said. "Urgent care and the emergency room are getting full because people can't get in."
Independent reporting noted that the strike led to canceled or delayed appointments, surgeries, and treatments at Kaiser facilities as the walkout continued.
California is the only state with legislatively mandated nurse-to-patient ratios, meaning hospitals must meet certain staffing minimums by law. Manzano alleged that staffing shortages have led to longer wait times and increased pressure on emergency departments.
Both nurses said replacement workers were brought in during the strike, and Jimenez said she could not speak to their level of care but emphasized that Kaiser nurses are deeply invested in their patients and care immensely for their communities.
Yulianna Arzate is a communications major at Mt. San Antonio College and part of the Community Groundwork 2025 Journalism School cohort. She is interested in strategic storytelling as well as how communication shapes public understanding. Her story is published as part of the CG Newswriting Lab, a chance for students to work alongside industry professionals to report, write and publish an original news story.