Kaiser Workers Reject Contract Extension, Prepare for Possible Strike

Kaiser Workers Prepare for Potential Strike Amid Contract Disputes

The contract between Kaiser management and its employees is set to expire at midnight, and the bargaining committee has decided not to extend it, as requested by Kaiser. According to the committee, continuing with the contract extension offers no benefits and would allow management to delay addressing key issues such as staffing, workload, and equitable treatment in terms of wages and benefits.

With 82% of the union members authorizing the bargaining committee to initiate an open-ended strike, the union is in a strong position to negotiate significant changes in the remaining scheduled bargaining days. However, there is a possibility that Kaiser may test the union's resolve by pushing them towards a strike. In anticipation, preparations for a potential strike are underway, including the picket shift sign-up process and the establishment of a hardship fund. A town hall meeting is scheduled for October 13th to provide further updates.

Resources and Participation

Members seeking to prepare for a strike or explore other professional opportunities can visit the NUHW Kaiser Member Resources Website. This platform offers resources for starting private practices and finding temporary work.

Members are encouraged to attend bargaining sessions to witness the negotiations firsthand. Recently, attendees experienced dismissive behavior from Kaiser's bargaining team, particularly regarding the unique issues faced by ADAPT therapists. To participate, members can sign up here. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for October 1 and 4 in Glendale and October 6, 7, and 10 in downtown LA.

Key Discussion Topics

Pension

The union presented a cost analysis showing that providing a pension would have been less expensive for Kaiser in 2021 and 2022 compared to their 6% 401(k) contribution plan. Over a ten-year period, the pension plan would cost only $2,025 more per year per full-time employee. Kaiser management has yet to justify why mental health and addiction medicine providers, medical and home care social workers, and Psychiatric RNs are excluded from receiving pensions like other Kaiser employees.

Wages

Kaiser has proposed a slight wage increase, adding 1% in the second year. The current proposal includes 5% increases for the first two years and 4% for the last two years of a four-year contract. These increases would begin only after the contract is ratified and are not retroactive to October 1st. The union countered with a proposal for a three-year contract that includes annual increases of 6%, 5%, and 5%, alongside equity adjustments of 5%, 5%, and 4% over the next three years.

Incentive Plans

There has been minimal movement from Kaiser on incentive plan metrics. Current proposals include a requirement for 50% of psychiatry patient visits to be in person, without understanding actual demand for in-person visits. The union plans to present a revised proposal addressing these concerns.

Staffing and Workload

Kaiser remains resistant to proposals addressing staffing and workload, with ambiguous promises to modify their Patient Management Time (PMT) proposal. The current proposal would significantly reduce time available for patient care-related tasks, as it includes training and meeting times within the six hours of "guaranteed" time.

Flexible Schedules

There is some progress on requests for flexible and hybrid schedules, as Kaiser modified their proposal to state that such requests would not be "unreasonably denied." The union is assessing this proposal for further response.

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