From: Ben-Chu-President-KPSC
Date: 04/06/2008 02:08PM
Subject: REQUIRED READING: SCHEDULED UNAC/UHCP STRIKE CANCELLED
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A special message to all Kaiser Permanente Southern California employees and physicians from Benjamin K. Chu, MD, MPH, president Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals (KFHP/H), Southern California, regarding the contract negotiations with the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP).
Kaiser Permanente met with UNAC/UHCP on Friday, April 4 in a more than 12-hour session in a continuing effort to reach an agreement regarding the wages and benefits for the Specialty Practice Nurses. We were unsuccessful in doing so. As a result, at the conclusion of our negotiations, the union announced the following steps. It will
Withdraw its 10-day notice to strike.
Call off the strike scheduled to begin Monday, April 7 and end Saturday, April 12.
Call for the Specialty Practice Nurses to report to work as scheduled between 7 a.m., Monday, April 7 and 7 a.m., Saturday, April 12.
Withdraw its representation of the Specialty Practice Nurses.
Withdraw its leadership participation in the Labor Management Partnership.
Within two weeks, ask its Kaiser Permanente union members to vote on withdrawing from the Labor Management Partnership.
Continue honoring any commitments in its current contract with Kaiser Permanente.
The Southern California Region's leadership is pleased the work stoppage planned for the week of April 7 is cancelled. It will avoid inconvenience to our health plan members and patients. It will mean better quality in the health care that we provide, and that will mean better health outcomes for those we serve.
With the termination of this scheduled work stoppage, our immediate responsibility is to ensure that we bring back our 800 Specialty Care Nurses in a respectful way that shows their presence and contributions are valued. This week, regional KFHP/H, SCPMG, and medical center leaders are meeting to ensure several actions occur smoothly:
Place Specialty Practice Nurses who had been removed from regular work schedules in anticipation of the strike back on their normal schedules.
Re-emphasize behaviors that demonstrate to returning nurses they should have no concerns of retaliation or harassment because of contract negotiations.
Update as quickly as possible all appropriate salaries – including retroactive raises – and benefits.
We want to thank our Human Resources team, including Labor Relations and others, who worked so hard over the last year to help us in these negotiations. We also extend our continuing regards and respect to UNAC/UCHP’s leadership and integrity in their vigorous advocacy and to the union’s membership for their past contributions to the success of this region in meeting the health care needs of our members and patients.
As we welcome back our Specialty Practice Nurses, we must also look forward and advance as a united organization in our need to fulfill our mission and our promise to the people and communities we serve.
The outcome of these negotiations raises a number of issues and questions that cannot be immediately answered. Once we gain a better understanding of the ramifications of these developments and decide on next steps, we will be back to you with our perspective on them.
In the meantime, to our Specialty Practice Nurses, welcome back and thank you.
