Strike off as Kaiser settles with workers

Health care giant Kaiser Permanente has reached a tentative agreement with unions covering over 80,000 workers, capping months of negotiations and the threat of a looming strike.

In exchange for wage increases through 2023, preservation of employees’ existing retirement benefits and other stipulations, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions has withdrawn plans for a seven-day strike to begin on Oct. 14. across Kaiser medical facilities in California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.\

Wages will increase by 3 percent in 2019, followed by 2 percent plus bonuses in the following years, according to a note from Maryland-based OPEIU Local 2 to workers.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kaiser said the agreement came together thanks to “common goals” despite months of disagreement.

“This agreement is a testament to the dedication, compassion and skills those employees bring to work every day and demonstrates that Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition have a shared commitment to affordability for our members,” said Arlene Peasnall, interim chief human resources officer of Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Hospitals.

Negotiations have been ongoing since last April, with the workers’ current contract set to expire on Sept. 30. In December, the National Labor Relations Board charged Kaiser with failing to bargain in good faith and tying collective bargaining negotiations to a ban on political activity.

Workers have consistently asked for higher wages and assurances against staffing shortages. To address that, the agreement would also involve creating a “multi-million-dollar” fund to provide educational opportunities to Californians seeking careers in the medical field.

Coalition members must ratify the agreement, which would then go into effect Oct. 1. About 67,000 members reside in California.