SEIU Kaiser National Bargaining Update 

Kaiser’s Values are Not Our Values 

With 37 days left before our contract expires, Kaiser still hasn’t made any proposal to raise wages for the healthcare workers even after the pandemic and inflation. This is unheard of in the 25 years of our partnership.

The only economic proposal they made was to slash the value of our PSP by capping it at $1,400. They still do not want to guarantee a PSP payout for us, although managers would continue to get bonuses regardless of Kaiser’s finances. We were clear with Kaiser that this was not something we were going to accept.

Meanwhile, in local bargaining, both SEIU Local 49 and Kaiser identified their top three issues for changes to the local contract. The contrast was stark:

Our Priorities:

  • Adding two anniversary steps for all classifications at 5% each

  • Longevity differential: 50¢/hour up to $3/hour at 30 years

  • $1.50/hour training differential for employees asked to train other employees

Kaiser's Priorities:

  • Reduce your 31 day right of return

  • Job descriptions: management wants to be able to unilaterally change them

  • Grievance procedure: reduce the number of appeal steps in the grievance procedure

 

Staffing: Bandaids but no Permanent Solutions 

Kaiser has not yet responded to our long-term proposals around subcontracting protections and eliminating vacancies. However, our Staffing Committee is working on an agreement for a temporary, one-year accelerated hiring period so we can get to 10,000 positions filled by the end of 2023. It isn’t final yet, but we are discussing:

  • Mandatory quicker response times from both managers and employees during bidding

  • Helping graduates of training programs get into hard-to-fill jobs

  • Expanding experience barrier waivers

  • Eliminating duplicative testing requirements

  • Paid externships

  • High volume hiring events

  • Referral bonuses

  • Reduction of registry use

  • Workers who are transferred or hired during this one-year agreement would commit to staying in their position

We are far from agreement, but on staffing, in the short-term at least, we are having useful discussions and engagement. We have made it clear to Kaiser that while this quick short-term action is important; staffing shortages have existed for years and are predicted to continue for decades. We also need permanent staffing solutions in our National Agreement.

 

It’s Clear We Have to Strike

Based on Kaiser’s priorities, it’s clear we are very far apart. While we continue to insist on wages that keep up with inflation and real solutions to the short staffing crisis, KP management has made no proposal to raise wages, tried to slash our PSP bonus, and is nowhere to be found when it comes to investing in workforce training, limiting outsourcing, and so many other important priorities.

On Thursday we held a press conference — that received national attention in the media — to announce that we are holding our votes to authorize the bargaining team to call for a strike when our contract expires on October 1. Strike votes will begin next week. Check the schedule for your facility and support the bargaining team’s recommendation to vote YES for strike authorization.

**You must be a SEIU member in good standing and show your Kaiser ID to vote.**
***This is an in-person vote. If you work from home or live closer to a different site than where you work, you an vote at any location.***


What's Next?

  1. Continue to purple up on Tuesdays and Thursdays as a show of solidarity!

  2. Download a virtual background and signature image to show your digital solidarity! 

  3. Check out our new Kaiser Strike Resource page on our website! It includes the Kaiser Strike Vote Schedule, a Kaiser Strike FAQ, and a list of helpful Worker Resources you may be able to use during the strike.

If you have any questions, talk to a Kaiser Bargaining Team member or contact Contract Specialist by emailing KaiserMRC@seiu49.org or calling/texting 503-782-6228.


Union Victories

  • Safe Staffing in Oregon — We passed the strongest safe staffing law in the country in Oregon, and Governor Tina Kotek just has signed the Safe Staffing bill (HB 2697) into law! Read More...

  • Charity Care Victory in Oregon — Oregon now has one of the strongest laws in the country to make sure eligible patients have their bills from nonprofit hospitals and clinics forgiven or reduced. Read More...

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VICTORY!! SEIU 49 Wins Big for Patients Eligible for Financial Assistance