Kaiser Workers Plan Strike Over Pension and Staffing Disputes

Kaiser Negotiations Face Challenges as Strike Looms

The ongoing negotiations between Kaiser and its employees have hit a roadblock as the healthcare giant failed to present new proposals during recent discussions. The union, representing 2,386 members, highlighted the absence of a revised pension offer, which affects 1,716 of their members. Despite the union's insistence that pensions are a critical issue, Kaiser’s chief negotiator stated, "we do not plan to change our retirement plans," leaving the matter unresolved compared to the benefits available to nearly 180,000 other Kaiser employees in California.

Beyond pensions, Kaiser has not addressed the union’s concerns over workload and staffing, nor have they engaged with most of the economic issues on the table. With a potential strike looming in less than two weeks, 24 issues remain open, prompting the union to prepare a strike notice for this Thursday. Members are being urged to sign up for picket shifts using their unique IDs, emphasizing that strong participation is crucial for a swift resolution.

While striking remains a last resort, the union plans to continue making proposals in hopes of reaching a satisfactory agreement. Recently, they submitted revised proposals on Workload and Patient Management Time, longevity steps, dental benefits, and a student loan repayment program. Kaiser, on its part, did propose modifications to the incentive plan metrics for Addiction Medicine and Social Medicine, to which the union responded with a revised proposal covering all disciplines.

Upcoming Bargaining Sessions and Events

Negotiations will continue with additional bargaining sessions scheduled for October 15 and 17, alongside the previously set dates of October 8 and 10. Union members are encouraged to participate in these sessions and can sign up here to join the bargaining team.

A town hall meeting is scheduled for this Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon, offering crucial updates on the bargaining process, strike preparations, and resources for members. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive the latest information. Further details will be provided in the next bargaining update.

For more information, visit the Bargaining update: October 7, 2024 on the NUHW website.

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