Posted on 04/07/2010 2:53:33 PM PDT by MamaDearest
OAKLAND, Calif., April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As months of national bargaining for a new union contract covering 100,000 union members at Kaiser Permanente began yesterday, Service Employees International Union--United Healthcare West (SEIU-UHW)'s 121-member bargaining team delivered a strong message to management: we are united for a contract that upholds high standards at the nation's largest not-for-profit health care provider, including good wages and maintaining all existing healthcare benefits.
At Tuesday's introductory session, Kaiser management described their current cost structure as "unsustainable" and said "changes must be made."
SEIU-UHW members, who at 48,000 make up nearly half of the 100,000 union members in the 32 unions in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, knew exactly what Kaiser was trying to signal.
"Kaiser made a presentation that laid the groundwork for takeaways," said Jolene Camp, a medical assistant at Kaiser Roseville and a member of the union bargaining committee. "There's no way SEIU-UHW members are giving up any of our healthcare benefits. We give 110 percent to Kaiser and our patients and we deserve better."
Following Kaiser's initial presentation, Dave Regan, SEIU-UHW Trustee, told the hundreds of managers and union members assembled, "We've heard lots of discussion about numbers and priorities but we know what Kaiser's really saying to its healthcare workforce: 'we want your stuff.' Our message back is an emphatic 'keep your hands off it.'"
Anticipating the start of national bargaining, thousands of SEIU-UHW members at Kaiser hospitals and clinics across the state have been holding rallies in support of the 2010 bargaining goals: win raises for all members, maintain all healthcare benefits and lock-in long-term job security. The current agreement expires in October 2010.
"Kaiser has always set the standard – whether in providing quality healthcare to the community or offering pay and benefits that keep experienced staff and define Kaiser as one of the best employers anywhere. Going into contract negotiations, we expect to build on the successes of previous years," said Michael Kelly, a senior surgical technician at Kaiser Antioch Medical Center and a bargaining committee member.
Bargaining between Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions is conducted at a single, national negotiating table. In addition to the national agreement, 2010 bargaining also includes local negotiations to address issues specific to local regions and members of individual unions.
Throughout negotiations, which are scheduled through June, SEIU-UHW members will blog about the issues and progress being made. Read bargaining committee members' opinions at: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/2010/04/check-out-our-bargainers-blogs.html.
Emphasis mine!
President Obama cites Kaiser Permanente Model - learn more about why Aug. 25
Dr. Garfield would have been proud because his vision on the Home Front of World War II was to build such a system for ordinary Americans. Indeed, it’s interesting, as well, to see Kaiser Permanente in the company of the Mayo Clinic. In 1943, the famed medical science writer Paul DeKruif wrote a book about what Dr. Garfield and Henry J. Kaiser were doing to develop a new model of medical care for working Americans, and nicknamed it the “Mayo Clinic for the common man.”
Didn’t these dopes hear about ObamaCare passing?
Where’s my rainbow-colored unicorn!? Stupid liberals (but I repeat myself).
Why do Unions exist?
LOL. There is a new world coming under Obamacare, which the SEIU thugs supported. Put them all on the exchanges and ditch the Cadillac plans.
And so it begins...
The CA janitors who took over United Healthcare are now threatening another healthcare provider.
I suspect this summer is going to be Shakedown City in the Bay Area. All doing cover for Boxer/Pelosi.
A a member, I'd like to see SEUI take it in the tummy ~ a big ol'tuck ~ maybe cut their dental and raise the price for coverage by the company under the Kaiser umbrella.
The alternative is to just give in to SEUI while whacking service to Medicare covered members.
The waits for appointments are getting longer all the time as it is, and the SEUI support personnel are just dogging it.
Now that they've made their threat, no more standing aside for any of them to get on an elevator ~ "take the stairs babe" ~ get out the way!
NOT: I do believe the SEUI people forgot that they do come into close contact with the patients, and some of us know how to play with sharp objects too ~ just like them. If they want more stuff they'd best go get it from Obama ~ not me. Frankly, I don't like them.
To extort money from businesses. Unions exist for the sole purpose of extortion.
Kaiser Permanente CEO meets with President Obama at the White House
May 11, 2009
Snips: Today, Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO George Halvorson, and other private sector health care leaders met with President Obama to discuss the need for containing rising health care costs. The coalition, which includes Service Employees International Union, America's Health Insurance Plans, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Advanced Medical Technology Association, and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America committed to cutting health care costs by $2 trillion over the next 10 years.
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Surmising whatever promise SEIU made at this meeting is moot. Doesn't matter because Andy Stern has far more personal visits under his belt to the white House than Goerge Halvorson of Kaiser Permanente. Aren't we glad for all that White House "transparency"? This administration has already made perfectly clear how much "influence" big business (no matter what mode) has upon it.
SEIU's Stern tops White House visitor list
Snip: One thing is clear: Service Employees International Union President Andrew Stern holds sway at the White House, where he’s listed for 22 visits—the top number on the logs.
( “There’s no way SEIU-UHW members are giving up any of our healthcare benefits.)
Another group of uniontards that will end up losing their jobs completely.
To control - and this one, SEIU, walks hand in hand with this administration.
Pay the cadillac fine. Oh, yeah, Obamski exempted the SEIU thugs.
Why do Unions exist?
No. 1 reason. To get good wages and benefits.
NOT for the wokers mind you, but for the Union Leadership/Bosses.
For what it's worth, Kaiser has, in the past, attempted to unload itself of the dental part of its business, which according to my sources, has been more profitable than the medical side of it. I have "family" retired from there but still in close contact with others still working there.
SCAAARREEEEW the SEIU!! The concept of union representation is great - but given that laws have been passed to end the abuses for which unions were created, the unions must continue to justify their existence for other reasons. The only reason they can come up with is to “protect benefits and increase wages.” Most unions today are parasites and some (courageous) members thereof will admit that.
As a taxpayer, I'd like to see that union take a couple right in the head ~ a big ol' double-tap ~ and the rest of us would be so much better off. FRegards.
As my ‘Dear Old Pappy’ use to say “unions and their leaders are there so they can live on the hill in million dollar homes with swimming pools and look down on the peasants.”
Kaiser-Roseville is where I and my wife receive the majority of our care. We like the staff and are treated well. The union isn't going to win this one.
In the past I worked HR and saw company officials golfing and dining with business agents from various unions (laborers, carpenters, operators, electricians, plumbers, et al). It’s difficult to picture animus at a bargaining table the next morning when those involved in negotiations shared cocktails, personal banter and surf and turf the prior night.
To collect dues.
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