Show me the love, Kaiser!

After much hard work, debate and dedication, the language proposal from the CIC is complete. Please let's clap our hands say thank you !

In my last blog, I mentioned that Kaiser continually references their "unsustainability." That is very concerning because of the implications, namely, they want to take our stuff. Well, last night ...again..... there was another presentation from from Chuck Colombus who presented Kaiser predictions for the future and guess what? They still call their financial model unsustainable. But I did not see a crystal ball, so how can they predict the future?

Our belief is that you get what you pay for. You want sustainability? Keep your workers in place by sustaining good wages with strong benefits. The way you show value to your employees is through wages and benefits. Show me the love!

At this point the only thing I know for sure we will need to be patient. United. Strong. There is no crystal ball. There's us.

So Kaiser here is my prediction: No takeaways ....Raises...Long term job security!!!

In Unity,

Angela

Until We Meet Again

On May 25, we will be returning to the bargaining table. Thus far, we have accomplished the following:
• No sick day take away and improved sick days cash out .
• More money in the training funds and assurances that Kaiser will provide training for members in case of redeployment or position elimination.
• A joint committee that will develop ways to hold managers accountable for improving the partnership.
• More control over how Performance Sharing Program (PSP) raises are distributed .
Even though we have done well, on May 25-27 we return to the bargaining table to discuss our benefits and wages .

In previous bargaining sessions, Kaiser management described their current cost structure as "unsustainable” and said that “changes must be made.” Even though this statement is somewhat vague, I am sure we can agree that it is not aligned with the union's goals:
• Winning raises for everyone
• Keeping all our benefits
• Guaranteeing long-term job security

We have three days to discuss these complex economic issues in the hopes of winning a desirable outcome. Showing Kaiser we are united and organized will secure our position and outcome at the bargaining table. That means we need to purple up, sticker up, and get loud and proud in all the facilities for a strong new contract.


In unity,
Angela

Does size matter ?

The age old question ..... does size matter ?

Yes! Especially at National Bargaining. We are well endowed... and we do have substance! That substance being SEIU and the coalition of partnering Unions. We have what it takes to get the job done and are taking care of business. The business being no takeaways! NO MEANS NO.

Thus far in bargaining we have had no takeaways. However, we return to the table for round 4 on May 25-27 and start discussing BENEFITS. I need you to show solidarity, wear purple and show Kaiser SIZE DOES MATTER!!


In Unity
Angela

Kaiser, let's be friends with benefits

Bargaing in San Francisco 2nd Session . . .

Lots of dicussion on performace, payouts, goals with rewards, and building successful practices . . .

Have you ever had someone take you out to a nice dinner to wine and dine you and tell you what they think you want to hear. . . Just so at the end of the eveing they can put their hands on your stuff?

Kaiser, I like what I heard today but just remember: Keep your hands off my stuff! As in, my BENEFITS!

Let's give a new meaning to the term, "friends with benefits."


In Unity,


Angela

Is this bargaining or a dating service?

The first barging session is over. What have we done so far?

Well, we've mostly flirted about our common interests and our shared hopes for a healthy long-term relationship.

Does this sound like a dating service to you? It sure does to me: people misrepresent themselves with pretty pictures and sweet talk but we don’t get at the hard cold truth about what we really want from each other.

Will these sessions have a happy ending where we all find our soul mates? Look, these are contract negotiations and I don’t need a soul mate! I need a pay raise, I need to keep all my healthcare benefits, and I need long-term job security.

So I’m saying to Kaiser right now, when you come back to the table on April 20, let’s stop talking about our hobbies and our favorite color and let’s get down to brass tacks. In other words, let’s get down to you trying to take my stuff and me keeping my stuff.

In Unity,

Angela

Bad Foreplay

I never thought there was such a thing as bad foreplay . . . until today. Management continues to sweet talk and coddle us with talk about shared interests and common goals, but our members are ready to get on with it! Enough with the foreplay, let's get to the action. Management needs to step up and say it to our faces: "We want your stuff!" Whenever they finally get around to saying it to our faces, we'll be ready to say right back, "We're keeping our stuff!" Until then, sticker up, purple up, show solidarity, be loud, and be proud.

In Unity,
Angela Young

First Day of Bargaining!

Still here!

It’s my second day here and the FIRST DAY of bargaining. Let me share some highlights.

We’re standing firm behind our three bargaining goals:

• No loss of benefits
• Wage increases for everyone
• Long-term job security

We also want to continue our Labor-Management Partnership (LMP). This partnership is a vessel and opportunity to navigate through tough times.

The day ended with a standing ovation for Dave Regan. His message was simple: “Don’t take our stuff.”

In Unity,

Angela Young

Kaiser National Bargaining Team Member

Arrival in Oakland for Bargaining!

Here in Oakland for Kaiser National Bargaining with our SEIU-UHW leaders and 150 union-elected members to discuss HOW WE WILL WIN in 2010. Our message is simple: Let's show Kaiser we're UNITED TO WIN A STRONG CONTRACT FOR ALL OUR MEMBERS. Our bargaining goals are to:

• Protect all our benefits
• Win raises for everyone
• Guarantee long -term job secrurity

BE UNITED AND BE HEARD!

Angela Young
National Bargaining Team