Two of the largest California-based unions representing employees in the healthcare industry are moving closer to engaging in a large-scale, statewide strike against hospitals run by both Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health.  While both the the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) and the California Nurses Association (CNA)/ National Nurses United (NNU) have held individual strikes against healthcare employers in the recent past, this joint effort, potentially involving tens of thousands of employees, represents the first concerted action between the two unions on such a scale.  NUHW intends to call out 4,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente hospitals, while CNA has been reported to intend to call a strike for 5,000 CNA-represented RNs at Sutter hospitals in the Bay Area.  In addition, the unions claim another 17,000 RNs will engage in a sympathy strike on the same day--September 22nd--in an attempt to show statewide solidarity against the two healthcare employers while negotiations between the sides continue.  On September 12, 2011, the leadership of the Stationary Engineers, Local 39, confirmed that its employees would likewise respect NUHW's picket lines at Kaiser, but vowed that enough of its workers would "remain on the job to maintain the hospital plant and equipment."   

Together, the unions claim that 23,000 healthcare employees will engage in work actions in the state on September 22, 2011.  If the medical centers hire replacement workers, a lawful action to cover for the striking employees, the walk-out could last longer.  Replacement workers often travel from out-of-state and generally require a multiday contract.