Hundreds of security service workers at Kaiser Permanente are slated to lose their jobs this week across the Oakland-based healthcare provider’s Northern California properties — including its Vacaville and Vallejo hospitals.

Asked about the cuts, a security division coordinator with SEIU-United Service Workers West confirmed that there will be “significant layoffs” and that both local hospitals will be impacted.

According to one employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the layoffs will affect 300 contract employees at 22 hospitals in the state.

While Kaiser did not confirm the numbers, it did release a statement saying the layoffs are part of an ongoing effort during the past year to “enhance our already-robust security programs and protocols” by implementing “sophisticated security technology” and deploying “more highly trained, specialized officers among our contracted security staff in Northern California.”

“The health and safety of our members and patients, employees, physicians and communities is our top priority,” Kaiser said. “All our existing security protocols continue to be enforced at all times and we ensure that our security staff are well-prepared to uphold these standards.”

Since late 2023, Kaiser said, it has been increasing the total number of “specialized, trained officers” in its facilities and developing its advanced security staffing and technology and is on track to add more in 2025. “This emphasis on specialization is having a measurable impact and is actively contributing to safer and more secure environments for staff, members, and visitors,” the company statement said.

The transition to specialized staffing and technology will continue and will require the company’s external security contractor to reduce the number of its employees currently assigned to Kaiser “mainly in non-specialized roles,” Kaiser said.

The healthcare giant insisted that it would maintain safe and secure environments and said information would be shared with affected workers about redeployment or other employment opportunities. It also said Kaiser has worked with the contractor to “ensure their affected people are treated with respect, offered other roles within the company, and have training opportunities.”

In May, Kaiser laid off 76 employees in California, including positions in Pleasanton, Pasadena, Oakland, San Diego, Downey, Sacramento, and Burbank. In October, it shared plans to lay off 20 employees across multiple California locations, effective in December. That cut included primarily information technology and business function positions.