Healthcare workers in the United States are preparing to strike to protest staffing shortages and low wages

• Healthcare workers in the US are facing a staffing crisis that is impacting patient care as the country prepares for another season of respiratory viruses.
• Shortages of staff have led to concerns among healthcare professionals, with many experiencing stress and anxiety about their upcoming shifts.
• Negotiations between the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West and healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente are underway to address these staffing concerns.
• The union is worried about chronic staffing shortages, and healthcare workers are already stretched thin, dealing with high-stress and intense job conditions.
• The looming respiratory virus season adds further pressure to an already strained healthcare system, raising concerns about the ability to meet the increased demand for care.

Overall, healthcare workers are grappling with burnout, low wages, and overwork, leading to staffing shortages that could adversely affect patient care. Efforts to address these issues include negotiations, increased hiring, and legislative action, but a strike is also looming as a possibility if the staffing crisis is not addressed.