UNAC/UHCP Withdraws from Partnership Activities

November 2012

On November 27, UNAC/UHCP President Ken Deitz, RN informed Kaiser Southern California President Ben Chu that UNAC/UHCP will be withdrawing from Labor Management Partnership activities until our dispute regarding the gross violation of our contract is resolved. Read the letter to Ben Chu here.

Our relationship with Kaiser is based on our Collective Bargaining Agreement. On November 16, Kaiser violated the most sacred provision in our contract, seniority, when they eliminated 175 UNAC/UHCP positions. Moreover, Kaiser failed to comply with the spirit and intent of the Employment and Income Security Agreement within our contract.

Quite simply, we need to stand up for our contract.

When Kaiser gave notice to our members, they returned each member back to their “original eliminated position,” and told the member they had one year to find other employment. This is a violation of the Employment and Income Security provision in our contract.

Why the reduction in force? Kaiser expects to earn $735 million in profits this year in Southern California. Kaiser’s patient membership has grown in Southern California this year by 95,000 new patients. Kaiser expects to increase patient membership in 2013 by 80,000; in 2014 by 225,000; and in 2015 by 200,000. Does this sound like a corporation that needs to be eliminating positions? Read the Sacramento Business Journal's report about Kaiser's "huge swing into solid profitability" here.

We Need to Stand Up and Stand Together
Here's how we can all make a difference:
+ Withdraw and boycott “partnership” activities until our grievance is settled
+ Sign up for our text alerts so you are informed
+ Participate in our protest actions at your facility and other facilities
+ Support your co-workers who are affected and remember, an injury to one, is an injury to all
+ Distribute this leaflet to your coworkers