Three hundred union caregivers at hospitals in Brea and Westminster are planning a three-day strike Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The strike is based on an unfair labor practice charge filed by the National Union of Healthcare Workers against the two Kindred hospitals. NUHW alleges that Kindred used cameras to illegally conduct surveillance on its workers.
The strike involves 315 nurses, nursing assistants, housekeepers and respiratory therapists — 155 at Kindred Hospital Brea at 875 N. Brea Blvd. and 160 workers at Kindred Hospital Westminster at 200 Hospital Circle.
The 48-bed hospital in Brea and 109-bed hospital in Westminster treat patients for longer stays, typically after they are discharged from acute-care hospitals.
The three-year contract in Brea expired June 30, 2025, while the Westminster agreement ended Aug. 30.
Matthew Garcia, who sits on the NUHW bargaining committee, says the facilities are critical components of the healthcare system, but Kindred, which owns both Orange County facilities, has refused to pay workers enough to avoid rapid turnover that has contributed to understaffing.
Garcia told the Southern California News Group that his union is seeking more hiring and a 6.5% increase in wages the first year, 6% in the second and 5% in the third year. Kindred has offered 2.5% in the first year, 2.5% in the second and 3% in the third.
“The turnover rate is fairly significant due to the low wages,” Garcia said. “We’re one of the lowest-paid hospitals in Orange County.”
NUHW spokesman Francisco Castro said the hospital workers are paid $21 an hour.
After more than five months of contract negotiations, Kindred Healthcare, which is owned by a private equity fund, is “proposing insufficient annual raises that would be less than the current 2.7% rate of inflation,” he said.
Kindred is part of Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth, which is owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Kindred operates long-term acute-care hospitals and provides rehabilitation services.
ScionHealthcare spokeswoman Jeanie Rittenberry said the top priorities for the hospitals in Brea and Westminster are to “deliver high‑quality, compassionate care” to their patients.
“This week’s strike was a planned event and is a common activity during the bargaining process,” Rittenberry wrote in a statement to SCNG. “Our hospitals remain fully operational, and we have comprehensive plans in place to ensure safe staffing and uninterrupted patient care at all times.”
ScionHealtcare remains committed to “bargaining in good faith to reach an agreement that supports our employees, protects our patients, and ensures the long‑term stability of our hospitals,” she added.
Rittenberry declined further comment.
Apollo controls 217 hospitals across 36 states, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project.
