|
|
Update on UNAC--Southern California situation
The executive committee of the Labor Management Partnership Strategy Group met on Thursday, May 1, to begin a national review of the circumstances surrounding the disagreement between UNAC and Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Another meeting is scheduled for June 11. UNAC (United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals) represents about 10,000 nurses and professionals in Kaiser Permanente's Southern California region. The disagreement arose from an issue that had remained unresolved in the wake of 2005 National Agreement negotiations: the continuation of benefits for newly-organized employees. The purpose of the May 1 meeting was to lay the groundwork for further consideration of a range of issues. Participants included other leaders from across the Health Plan, Medical Group, and Union Coalition. They reviewed preliminary information including lessons learned from partnerships at other large organizations, the procedural requirements of the 2005 National Agreement, and some facets of the specific issues at hand. The tri-chairs of the LMP Strategy Group executive committee are Union Coalition Executive Director John August, The Permanente Federation's Associate Executive Director, Operations Strategy Marty Gilbert, MD, and Senior Vice President for the Office of Labor Management Partnership Mary Ann Thode. "We all recognize the importance of working through this process," said Gilbert. "Resolving the situation is a top priority." "We are all really concerned," said Thode. "Partnership is extremely important to us all, labor and management alike, and we will do everything we can to come up with an approach to this issue that will be mutually acceptable." Added August, "This is a very fluid situation, but we remain hopeful of achieving a good outcome, proceeding with patience and care every step of the way."
|
|
