Kaiser Members Launch Huge Contract Campaign
More than 100 plus members of our Steward Council met this month to map out strategy and now our facilities are abuzz with completing bargaining surveys, signing a unity letter, electing our bargainers and developing plans in our worksites so we can win a great contract in 2010 negotiations.
Across the state, members in Kaiser are signing a unity letter to show how united and committed we are in SEIU-UHW to win a great new contract in 2010 negotiations. Nearly 50,000 of us are standing strong behind goals that include:
- Raises for all members
- Locking in all our current benefits and our voice at work
- Securing our jobs well into the future
We'll go into bargaining together with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions---100,000 members strong--in April.
Small Kaiser Group Votes to Take Risk with NUHW
Ballots counted Tuesday, January 26 in an election among 2,300 Kaiser professionals, psych-social workers, and RNs show that those workers voted to leave SEIU-UHW to join NUHW. The election only affects this small group in Southern California and not the nearly 50,000 other SEIU-UHW members at Kaiser who are launching the biggest and most active statewide contract campaign in history.
NUHW has put these workers at grave risk for their own purposes. These workers had their raises and benefits locked in for almost two years. Now, they will have to re-bargain their contract on their own in this economic crisis--at the same time Kaiser is cutting healthcare and other costs among management and non-union workers.
Over the past year, 53,464 SEIU members have chosen to stay united in SEIU-UHW for better wages, healthcare, and other benefits. Only 2,600, including the recent Kaiser workers, have chosen NUHW, which still has no members under contract and few resources to fight for workers
Members Bring to Light Misplaced Priorities of Fresno County Supervisors Case and Larson
SEIU-UHW members placed a new radio advertisement - "I cut the Sheriff" - to highlight Fresno County Supervisors Judy Case's and Phil Larson's cuts to law enforcement at the same time they gave a big raise to the county's top administrator. The two county supervisors voted for a 17% salary increase for John Navarrette, the county's administrative officer. They then approved a budget plan with $7.5 million in cuts for the Fresno County Sheriff's office.
The radio ad launches a comprehensive effort to hold the supervisors accountable for their cuts to vital services while handing out raises to bureaucrats, wasteful spending, and prioritizing the needs of special interests over the needs of the community.
Contra Costa Central Labor Council Stands in Solidarity with Home Care Providers - Passes Resolution Supporting Workers' Pensions
The Contra Costa County Central Labor Council passed a resolution stating that to receive the Council's endorsement, members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors must support maintaining the retirement benefit for the County's home care workers. Currently SEIU-UHW members are negotiating a new two-year contract, but the County is attempting to eliminate the pension plan, even though it would cost the county more to eliminate the program than to keep it.
The resolution, which will be sent to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, was approved by all of the Council delegates.
