The agreement (Local 30 Contract) between OPEIU, Local 30 and Kaiser Permanente and the National Agreement between the Kaiser Permamnete Coalition of Unions and Kaiser Permanente will be 'up' July 1st, 2011. Traditionally, negotiations for these agreements begins just over one year prior to the agreements' completion date. Shortly thereafter, our negotiating committee and Kaiser usually reach a tentative agreement which is may then be voted on by the Local 30 membership. As during previous negotiations, the CFO of our Union has scheduled "Pre-Negotiation Town Hall Meetings". If you're interested in going to one of these meetings, you're welcome to attend. Personally, however, I think these meetings aren't much more than window dressings; the same issues have been brought to the attention of the Union for the past thirty plus years (i.e. wage parity with workers in Los Angeles, Day after Thanksgiving to be treated as a holiday, etc.) yet every contract lacks progress in these areas. If progress regarding issues which are important to us isn't made this time, I encourage my fellow Union Members to join me in voting no on the tentative agreement. Discuss it [here].(more...)
Channel 10 "Scrooge" Hurts Workers
Dustin, This is Michelle Krug with NABET CWA Local 54 (the 10NewsUnfair.com people:). Thank you so much for your proactive response to our struggle. We are a very small union and "getting the word out" has its challenges, but actions like yours certainly boost our spirit and help maintain our "hope".
Again, thank you so much!!! In solidarity,
Michelle Krug, Political Director, NABET CWA Local 54
619) 434-9343, 619) 917-9343 (c) (more...)
Communicating Stewards & Their Hypocritical Union
So, as a Union Steward, I received my copy of the OPEIU Steward Update (Volume 6, Issue 3) today and thought, "Hmm, how interesting". (Yes, I'm most likely one of the very few OPEIU Stewards who opens the pamphlet and actually reads from it). Now, I confess, I don't often read all the articles; in fact, I often only read the headlines and skim through some of the articles looking for something interesting and informative which grabs my attention and entices me to read further. Although the articles within the Steward Update tend not to peak my interest very often, this latest issue, actually has several articles which begged me to read them; "A new Look at Stewards and Communications" and "Jobs of the Steward: a Quick Quiz".
(more...)
MaryEllen Farrell Banks Over $100k
While our union dues increased again and many of us "eeked" out a less than $800 per year raise last year, Mary Ellen joined the over $100,000 Club when she landed a nearly $7,500 raise in her base salary. Including allowances and disbursements, Miss Farrell banked a grand total of $101,148 (all paid from our dues). Yet her raise may seem modest compared to Walter Allen's base salary raise of $12,897. Including allowances and dispersements, Mr Allen banked a grand total of $166,668 (all paid from our dues).
We invite you to congratulate or complain to Miss Farrell and Mr Allen regarding their newly acquired wealth. Or, better yet, do something about it, next election! (more...)
SEIU DID, after Walter said OPEIU COULDN'T
In mid 2005, having friends who work as Security Officers within Kaiser Permanente bulidings and knowing they didn't have a Union, I began my effort to help them organize. Instinctively, I contacted our Union, OPEIU, Local 30, and was told, by Walter Allen, that we could not represent them. I then contacted the SPFPA, received and distributed their information and authorization cards but, due to poor communications and little support by their representative, this effort dissolved. I then contacted the UGSOA, received and distributed their information and authorization cards. We had sufficient cards signed for the UGSOA to file for an NLRB election, which they did. However, we then learned of the massive effort the SEIU was making (focused in L.A. and Northern California) and the UGSOA opted to withrawal their election petition so that the Officers may all be organized within one Union. I had an excellent experience, working with the UGSOA. I then contacted the SEIU, received and distributed their information and authorization cards (and I personally returned cards from more than 95% of the Officers working in San Diego). I also had an excellent experience working with the SEIU, during this organizing drive. Result...
Security Officers Who Protect Kaiser Permanente Hospitals Nationwide Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify First-ever Union Contract
Security officers with SEIU United Service Workers West who protect Kaiser Permanente hospitals nationwide voted overwhelmingly today to ratify their first-ever union contract. The three year contract with private security company Securitas, which is contracted by Kaiser to protect its facilities, includes family healthcare and higher wages for the 2,000 officers that are stationed at Kaiser facilities in California and across the nation. Of the 2,000 nationwide, 1,600 guard facilities in California.
(more...)
Kaiser Lab Workers Prepare for Re-Alignment
On February 26, 2010 Kaiser Permanente lab workers who are Members of OPEIU, Local 30 will be experiencing yet another re-alignment. Perhaps time flies but it really doesn't seem that long ago that these Members endured this same stressful situation. This time workers are upset and are making their voices and dissatisfaction heard by filing a grievance with our Union. Copies of the grievance may be obtained from fellow coworkers and/or by contacting us The driving factor behind this grievance is due to a change which Management is intending to make in regards to bidding senority; Management has stated it's intent of permitting all of a Worker's senority 'count' during job bidding. Workers are contending that only one's senority within their classification should be used and are citing page 16, article 8, section 4, paragraph 821. If you'd like to add your support of this grievance, you may print, sign and fax a copy to the OPEIU, Local 30 office (619) 640-4830.
It's important to prepare for a dialogue between the OPEIU, Local 30 Members, their Union and Kaiser Permanente Management in order to best understand each position. Discussing your concerns with your coworkers in person or on this site may prove very helpful. Pro OPEIU, Local 30 Member/ Kaiser Permanente Worker's perspective and/or pro Kaiser Permanente Management perspective may be posted in our forums, [here].
* Update - KP Management has reversed it's decision to base Worker's bidding position on his/her bargaining unit seniority and has released a memo stating bidding order will be based on one's seniority within the classification.
The agreement (Local 30 Contract) between OPEIU, Local 30 and Kaiser Permanente and the National Agreement between the Kaiser Permamnete Coalition of Unions and Kaiser Permanente will be 'up' July 1st, 2011. Traditionally, negotiations for these agreements begins just over one year prior to the agreements' completion date. Shortly thereafter, our negotiating committee and Kaiser usually reach a tentative agreement which is may then be voted on by the Local 30 membership. As during previous negotiations, the CFO of our Union has scheduled "Pre-Negotiation Town Hall Meetings". If you're interested in going to one of these meetings, you're welcome to attend. Personally, however, I think these meetings aren't much more than window dressings; the same issues have been brought to the attention of the Union for the past thirty plus years (i.e. wage parity with workers in Los Angeles, Day after Thanksgiving to be treated as a holiday, etc.) yet every contract lacks progress in these areas. If progress regarding issues which are important to us isn't made this time, I encourage my fellow Union Members to join me in voting no on the tentative agreement. Discuss it [
Dustin, This is Michelle Krug with NABET CWA Local 54 (the 10NewsUnfair.com people:). Thank you so much for your proactive response to our struggle. We are a very small union and "getting the word out" has its challenges, but actions like yours certainly boost our spirit and help maintain our "hope".
Again, thank you so much!!! In solidarity,
So, as a Union Steward, I received my copy of the OPEIU Steward Update (Volume 6, Issue 3) today and thought, "Hmm, how interesting". (Yes, I'm most likely one of the very few OPEIU Stewards who opens the pamphlet and actually reads from it). Now, I confess, I don't often read all the articles; in fact, I often only read the headlines and skim through some of the articles looking for something interesting and informative which grabs my attention and entices me to read further. Although the articles within the Steward Update tend not to peak my interest very often, this latest issue, actually has several articles which begged me to read them; "A new Look at Stewards and Communications" and "Jobs of the Steward: a Quick Quiz".
(
While our union dues increased again and many of us "eeked" out a less than $800 per year raise last year, Mary Ellen joined the over $100,000 Club when she landed a nearly $7,500 raise in her base salary. Including allowances and disbursements, Miss Farrell banked a grand total of $101,148 (all paid from our dues). Yet her raise may seem modest compared to Walter Allen's base salary raise of $12,897. Including allowances and dispersements, Mr Allen banked a grand total of $166,668 (all paid from our dues).
In mid 2005, having friends who work as Security Officers within Kaiser Permanente bulidings and knowing they didn't have a Union, I began my effort to help them organize. Instinctively, I contacted our Union, OPEIU, Local 30, and was told, by Walter Allen, that we could not represent them. I then contacted the 
On February 26, 2010 Kaiser Permanente lab workers who are Members of OPEIU, Local 30 will be experiencing yet another re-alignment. Perhaps time flies but it really doesn't seem that long ago that these Members endured this same stressful situation. This time workers are upset and are making their voices and dissatisfaction heard by filing a grievance with our Union. Copies of the grievance may be obtained from fellow coworkers and/or by 
