Kaiser spent $1 billion to withstand a major strike. What did it cost?

Kaiser Permanente spent an additional $1 billion to buck union demands and operate facilities with temporary workers during a major strike this January in California and Hawaii. About 31,000 nurses, physical therapists, nurse anesthetists and other professionals walked off January 26 for four weeks before the alliance of unions ratified new contracts in March. Kaiser's offer included 21.5% raises over four years, short of the 25% demanded by unions. Experts say the hardball approach comes at a cost beyond money, risking strained labor relations in one of the country’s largest private health systems. The company said the strike disrupted care and increased costs, while unions sought to restore staffing and wages.