Category: Uncategorized

We give our all to provide quality, compassionate patient care. We come to work despite mental and physical exhaustion. We cover shifts when staffing is short. We sacrifice our own health and safety to serve our communities.

Coalition union leaders have called on Kaiser to recognize our commitment and sacrifices made during this pandemic by providing all Coalition union members with a full PSP payout. We ask Kaiser to follow widely accepted public health principles– not scrutinize and penalize caregivers about attendance during the Delta and Omicron surges.

Kaiser has made billions, and executive pay has soared during this pandemic. Yet, Kaiser management may use regional “financial gate” metrics as an excuse to withhold PSP payouts. It is rumored that only Coalition union members in Northern California are in line for the full PSP payout– even though union members in every region gave their all this past year and deserve full credit for it.

Right now, Kaiser management has an opportunity to show how much they value their frontline workers. We ask them to make the most of it and continue showing it as we approach our 2023 National Agreement negotiations.

image-slider-with-thumbnail1.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail2.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail3.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail4.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail5.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail6.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail7.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail7.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail7.jpeg

image-slider-with-thumbnail7.jpeg

As Kaiser pushed two-tier wages and benefits on Alliance union members and the Local 39 Operating Engineers strike passed its second month, Coalition union members responded with action. Together, we:

• Exposed Kaiser’s greed by flyering co-workers and the public
• Were the first in a wave of sympathy strike announcements that helped change the tide at the bargaining table
• Organized tens of thousands of workers nationwide for a sticker action calling on Kaiser to prioritize patients over profits
• Held the largest sympathy strike in over a century: 40,000 SEIU-UHW, OPEIU 29, and IFPTE 20 union members at 21 facilities in Northern California said we care enough about another group of workers to leave our jobs, give up pay, and stand with the with striking Kaiser Local 39 Operating Engineers.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, we felt the strength of our collective power. We are proud of the part we played to help bring about A fair contract for Alliance union members. WE still stand strong with Local 39 engineers. We Remain Ready to Fight whenever Kaiser greed threatens quality patient care.

For months, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions has been working to hold Kaiser Permanente accountable to act in Partnership and follow our National Agreement regarding its Reduction-In-Force/Redeployment plans issued in February 2021. Our perseverance has paid off. A neutral arbitrator has sided with the Coalition unions and found that Kaiser “violated the National Agreement when it did not follow the NCAL KP Redeployment Map as approved on February 28, 2017,” and ordered Kaiser back to the table.

In April 2021, Kaiser notified SEIU-UHW and OPEIU Local 29 leaders of their intent to eliminate the jobs of 315 union members in Northern California and their plans to tell employees the very next day. The affected Unions formally requested to engage in interest-based bargaining, a step required by the 2017 NCAL KP Redeployment Map. Kaiser said that they were not required to do so and denied the unions’ request. Coalition unions saw this as a violation of the National Agreement and the spirit of Partnership.

Escalating the issue through the dispute resolution process, SEIU-UHW and OPEIU 29 leaders refused to give up and let their members’ contractual rights be ignored.

Nearly a year later, the issue was finally resolved at the highest national level in favor of the Coalition. An arbitrator found Kaiser in violation of the National Agreement and has ordered the parties back to the table for 30 days to discuss and problem solve this Redeployment and the issues related to currently affected employees. If no agreement is reached, the arbitrator will order a resolution which will most likely include additional time for redeployment. During redeployment, employees whose positions are eliminated have their jobs, wages, and benefits protected while the unions and Kaiser work to place them in another job.

This Decision not only upholds the integrity of our National Agreement but also shows our tenacity in holding Kaiser accountable to it and the principles of Partnership.

The full text of the Decision can be read here.

Kaiser recently notified the Coalition of its new COVID-19 Vaccination Policy related to booster shots. After some back-and-forth, the Coalition was able to move Kaiser to extend the coverage of this new policy from March 1, 2022, to May 1, 2022, and insisted on retroactive application to the date Kaiser raised the issue. This represents a big win for members, ensuring all leave benefits related to vaccine boosters are available for the full six months after the mandatory vaccination requirement went into effect on October 31, 2021.

Effective November 19, 2021 (retroactively) through May 1, 2022, and consistent with current policy for employees receiving the initial COVID vaccination(s), all employees are eligible for:

• 2 hours of administrative time to receive a COVID vaccination booster shot
• 8 hours of COVID paid leave for those who have a physician confirmed adverse reaction to receiving a COVID vaccination booster shot

We care about the health and safety of all our members and that of our communities. With a new variant in play and indoor holiday gatherings right around the corner, we encourage all of you and your loved ones to please get vaccinated and a booster as soon as you are eligible.

Full policy: COVID-19 Vaccination for KP Workforce Members

Kaiser has pocketed more than $11 billion in profits during the pandemic, yet time and again they have chosen to disrespect workers on the frontlines of caring for patients. We refuse to be divided. We refuse to be broken. We refuse to be shortchanged. Our patients are too important to allow Kaiser’s greed to undermine their care. We are calling on Kaiser to get back to the values that used to be their guidepost by investing in patients, in workers, and in our communities instead of just lining their pockets.

Frontline workers are standing up for respect and quality patient care at Kaiser Permanente. Are you with us?
Please download and share this flyer at your worksite.