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?
Continue to purple up on Tuesdays and Thursdays as a show of solidarity!
Download a virtual background and signature image to show your digital solidarity!
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.
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