Union in Brief – March 2012

March 2012

Kaiser New Group Negotiations Begin —

Kaiser Case Managers, Patient Educators, Midwives and WOCNs have been negotiating for over a month in the UNAC/UHCP San Dimas state office for their first contract. Updates on their progress are available at unacuhcp.org

Kaiser National Bargaining Begins —

Kaiser National Bargaining started March 6 in Los Angeles.  For information about who is bargaining on your behalf, how to sign up to attend bargaining, or for bargaining updates, visit our campaign website at unacuhcp.org/bargaining2012

Legislation promotes health care worker safety and non-retaliation —

Assembly Bill 1136, the Hospital Patient and Health Care Worker Injury Protection Act, became effective on January 1, 2012.  Now incorporated into the California Labor Code, the law requires all general acute care hospitals to maintain a safe patient handling policy and take action to replace manual patient lifting and transferring with powered equipment and lift teams or staff trained in safe lifting techniques.  Importantly, the law prohibits disciplinary action against a health care worker who refuses to lift, reposition, or transfer a patient due to concerns about safety or the lack of trained lift team personnel or equipment.  UNAC/UHCP supported this bill and worked with many other groups to secure its passage.  To ensure effective implementation of this law for its members, UNAC/UHCP, along with other stakeholders, is participating in advisory meetings with Cal/OSHA, the first of which took place on January 24, 2012.