Health Care Professionals, Psych-Social Workers, Sunset RNs risk loss of up to $15,000 in pay, healthcare, pensions and other benefits
The economic well being of Kaiser members in the Health Care Professionals unit, the Psych-Social Chapter unit, and the AFN unit at Kaiser Sunset has been put in danger by a decision of a regional arm of the National Labor Relations Board. We have been told that we could soon be participating in an election to keep our union, an election triggered by former officials who were ousted from our union in January.
If the NLRB ruling stands, we would be the only employees of 50,000 SEIU-UHW Kaiser members facing such an election, the outcome of which could strip away our current contract and cost each of us up to $15,000 in lost pay and benefits.
What's at Stake: If we stay in SEIU-UHW, all of our current contract guarantees and protections will remain in place until 2011, while we are bargaining with the combined strength of 100,000 Kaiser workers nation-wide for our next contract. If we lose our union, our contract would be voided and all guarantees and protections would disappear - during the worst economic downturn in decades.
Here's what we could potentially lose:
- An automatic pay raise of 2% in April. We can also expect similar raises in October and in April/October of each upcoming year - Thousands of dollars guaranteed under our SEIU-UHW contract.
- PSP payments (between $3,000 - $5,000 depending on our specialty) in March 2010, then again in 2011 and 2012 - Up to $10,000 guaranteed under our SEIU-UHW contract.
- All current healthcare coverage, pension plan, sick/personal leave allowances and other standard-setting benefits - Benefits guaranteed under our SEIU-UHW contract.
- Full rights that protect against layoffs, and allow us to bid on open positions and move up in seniority - Rights guaranteed under our SEIU-UHW contract.
"Anyone who works at Kaiser knows that management is already taking away healthcare and benefits from non-union employees. If we leave SEIU-UHW, that means us. Staying in our union means staying under our contract - the best contract for healthcare workers in the State." - Alice Dworkin, MSW, Kaiser Panorama City
The sudden announcement of this NLRB decision flies in the face of other rulings stating clearly that Kaiser workers' wages, healthcare, and pensions are protected until 2011 or in some cases 2012. While SEIU-UHW is considering legal options to overturn the ruling, Kaiser members need to know that any potential election would endanger our participation in national negotiations, as well as the entire Labor-Management Partnership.
"It's pretty simple, actually. If we stay in SEIU-UHW, we stay in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, and we stay in the national bargaining game. If we drop out of one, we drop out of it all. We become, in effect, at-will employees counting on a new group with no members, no resources and no plan - during the worst economy in our lifetimes. That's too much to risk." - Garry Brooks, CDRP, Counselor, Kaiser Fontana
Stay tuned for more updates on this critical issue. Contact your steward or union rep for more information or email info@seiu-uhw.org to learn more or get involved in the fight to protect our contract.
