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11/13/2023

2023 Kaiser Permanente National Agreement Ratified by 98.5%

MORE THAN 85,000 KAISER PERMANENTE HEALTHCARE WORKERS RATIFY LANDMARK NEW CONTRACT
 
On heels of historic strike, frontline healthcare workers secure critical workforce investments that bolster patient care 
 
Contract sets new standard for healthcare industry nationwide
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OAKLAND, Calif. – In a historic victory for frontline healthcare workers, more than 85,000 Kaiser Permanente workers have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract that will bolster patient safety, make critical investments in the healthcare workforce, and set a higher standard for the healthcare industry nationwide. Approved by a margin of 98.5%, the four-year contract is in effect from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2027, at hundreds of Kaiser facilities across California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.


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The landmark new contract follows months of tireless advocacy from tens of thousands of frontline healthcare workers, including a three-day unfair labor practice strike in early October. A tentative agreement was reached on October 13 following Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su’s engagement to help Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions successfully bridge the gap on key issues. 

“This is more than a contract – it signals a new day for frontline healthcare workers and for patient safety across Kaiser facilities,” said Angelica Mateo, a licensed vocational nurse at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Clinics. “When healthcare workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder to fight for our patients and our jobs, we can win.”
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 Crucially, the new contract contains strong commitments on wages, hiring, and training that will allow Kaiser Permanente to recruit and retain experienced professionals and improve patient care. Contract terms include:
  • Addressing the staffing crisis by raising wages by 21% over four years to better retain current healthcare workers
  • Establishing a new healthcare worker minimum wage – $25/hr in California and $23/hr in other states with Coalition union members 
  • Protective terms around subcontracting and outsourcing, which will keep experienced healthcare workers in jobs and provide strong continuity of care for patients
  • A renewed commitment to and funding of the groundbreaking labor-management partnership where unionized frontline workers have a voice in decision-making
  • Implementation of a joint staffing process where frontline healthcare workers and managers work together at the department level on proper staffing models and plans needed to deliver care to patients
  • A one-year accelerated hiring process that decreases internal delays to external hiring and invests in internal talent to meet staffing needs. This includes the elimination of duplicative testing requirements and reducing experience barriers for incumbent employees
  • A commitment to upskill existing workers and an investment in the training of future healthcare workers with a focus on job classifications that have an acute shortage, such as licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses, radiology technicians, medical assistants, laboratory assistants, and call center/customer service representatives
 
“Tens of thousands of healthcare workers have been fighting with one goal in mind: to finally have the resources they need to keep patients safe. Today, we celebrate a huge step forward in addressing persistent staffing problems,” said Caroline Lucas, Executive Director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. “This new contract is not only a victory for Kaiser’s patients and employees, but for all frontline healthcare workers and those who rely on them in our moments of need. When healthcare workers win, we all win.”
 
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions represents 85,000 Kaiser healthcare workers in seven states and the District of Columbia. In April, the Coalition began its national bargaining process ahead of the September 30th contract expiration. The Coalition and Kaiser Permanente had last negotiated a contract in 2019 before healthcare workers found themselves on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic that has worsened working conditions and exacerbated a healthcare staffing crisis.
 
From Wednesday, October 4 to Saturday, October 7, 75,000 Kaiser healthcare workers held an unfair labor practice strike. The actions, led by workers across multiple states and in Washington, D.C., constituted the largest strike of healthcare workers in U.S. history. On October 9, Coalition unions issued a second 10-day notice for a strike that would have commenced on November 1 and included an additional 3,000 healthcare workers in Seattle but was withdrawn upon the tentative agreement. 
 
“Frontline healthcare workers across states, facilities, and professions have shown the world what is possible through unity,” said Dave Regan, President of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW). “We want to express our profound gratitude to Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su and the Biden administration for their support of workers' right to bargain collectively and their efforts to help reach an agreement that addresses the staffing challenges facing healthcare workers and their patients.”

10/19/2023

Victory Tentative Agreement Reached! Here's How to Vote to Approve the Contract.

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After our historic three-day strike, we won a strong new agreement:
  • 21% across-the-board raises for ALL regions: 6% in October 2023; 5% in October 2024; 5% in October 2025; 5% in October 2026 – the largest raise package in the history of the Kaiser Labor/Management Partnership.  Market wage adjustments for classifications under market value.
  • Renewed outsourcing and subcontracting protections for all classifications, including Revenue Cycle workers.
  • $1,500 ratification bonus for all workers.
  • Increase minimum wage:
    CA: June 2024: $23/hr; June 2025: $24/hr; June 2026: $25/hr
Regions outside of CA: June 2024: $21/hr; June 2025: $22/hr; June 2026: $23/hr
  • Our 2023 PSP, to be paid out in March 2024, will have a guaranteed minimum of $1,500 (pro-rated for part time) with potentially more based on goals.
And much more!
Click the document below for more information and instructions on how to vote to approve the contract. 

9/18/2023

Kaiser Members: Download your Local 2 Zoom Backgrounds Here!

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Local 2 Zoon BG 1- Ready to Strike (Blue).png
File Size: 54 kb
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Local 2 Zoom BG 2-Ready to Strike (Black).png
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Local 2 Zoom BG 3- People Over Profit (Blue).png
File Size: 55 kb
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Local 2 Zoom BG 4- Fair Contract Now (Blue).png
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Local 2 Zoom BG 5- #KaiserULPStrike (Blue).png
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Local 2 Zoom BG 6- #KaiserULPStrike (Black)- .png
File Size: 44 kb
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Local 2 Zoom BG 7- #KaiserULPStrike (Blue & Gold).png
File Size: 52 kb
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Local 2 Zoom BG 8- Fair Contract Now (Blue & Gold).png
File Size: 71 kb
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Local 2 Zoom BG 9- Ready to Strike (Blue & Gold).png
File Size: 67 kb
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9/18/2023

The Results Are In! An Overwhelming 98% of Local 2 Kaiser Permanente Members Voted YES to an Unfair Labor Practice Strike!

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KAISER:  WE ARE READY TO STRIKE!
The results are in - An overwhelming 98% voted YES to an Unfair Labor Practice strike.
 
OPEIU Local 2 members at Kaiser Permanente have made their voices heard.  We will take action if Kaiser Permanente does not come to the bargaining table to properly address our priorities - including staffing, patient care, and a consistent national wage increase to reward and retain our healthcare workers.  ​

9/11/2023

Kaiser Strike Authorization Vote Happening 9/11/23-9/16/23. Schedule Out Now!

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Kaiser members: come out to cast your vote to authorize a strike and show KP how united the Mid-Atlantic States region is! Click the document below to see the vote schedule and where we are going to be. 

8/29/2023

Join SEIU/SEIU BF Members for a Rally to Demand a Fair Contract Now!

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Local 2 members at SEIU & SEIU Benefit Funds have been working under an expired contract since August 31, 2022. It's past due for SEIU & SEIU Benefit Funds leadership to stop the corporate delay tactics, respect its unionized workers, and bargain a fair contract in good faith. It's time for SEIU to invest in union jobs and show the world that #UnionsForAll starts at home!

Please join us for a rally at 1800 Massachusetts Ave, NW & march to Dupont Circle on August 31 @ 12:30 pm.
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Please remember to follow for updates on social media https://linktr.ee/seiustaffunion and tell SEIU you expect more from leaders in the labor movement!

6/14/2023

Local 2 Receives Gold Organizing Award at 29th OPEIU Convention



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OPEIU Local 2 is proud to receive the Gold Organizing Award at the 2023 OPEIU Convention in Philadelphia, PA, for our  organizing efforts in nonprofits and other industries across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. 

Each year, OPEIU recognizes local unions across the country for their organizing achievements. Congratulations to ITPEU/OPEIU Local 4873 in Savannah, GA for receiving the Silver Organizing Award, to Local 174 in Burbank, CA for receiving the Bronze Organizing Award, and a special congratulations to Local 153 in New York for receiving the 2022 Henderson B. Douglas Award, which is awarded to the local union who organizes the most people into their local or the International that year. Local 2 previously won the Henderson B. Douglas Award in 2018. 

5/9/2023

We're Hiring a Staff Representative!


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OPEIU Local 2 represents a diverse membership of 8,000 members in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. OPEIU Local 2 is seeking an experienced staff representative who can be an integral part of our growing union. 

The Office & Professional Employees International Union, Local 2, AFL-CIO is a dynamic, progressive labor union for professional, technical, and office professionals in the private and public sectors. We are committed to leading and assisting members to improve their workplaces, gain competitive wages, benefits, and respect in the workplace. 

​Please read more in the file included below

3/8/2023

Sign the Petition! Tell Jamie Rappaport Clark to Negotiate a Fair Union Contract, or Resign as CEO of Defenders of Wildlife


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CEO and President Jamie Rappaport Clark has long perpetuated a culture of fear among staff at Defenders of Wildlife. Defenders staff unionized in September 2021 and have since been trying to negotiate a first contract. Instead of bargaining in good faith, Clark and her leadership team have committed multiple violations of labor law. The National Labor Relations Board General Counsel determined Defenders of Wildlife guilty of 4 unfair labor practice charges, including illegally firing a union organizer. This is not how a progressive, environmental non-profit should act. Sign our petition to demand that Jamie Rappaport Clark negotiate a fair contract with our union or resign as CEO of Defenders of Wildlife.

2/2/2023

Rally to Support Newly Unionized Workers at Defenders of Wildlife


A series of short rallies will be held between 8:15am - 8:45am Monday - Wednesday, February 6th - 8th, 2023 to support newly unionized workers at Defenders of Wildlife as the NLRB complaint goes to trial that week.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a broad complaint after finding that Defenders of Wildlife:
  • Wrongfully terminated Erica Prather, a key organizer of the 2021 unionizing effort
  • Improperly engaged in “direct dealing” with staff
  • Failed to provide the Union information necessary for bargaining
After a year of bargaining, management has come to ZERO agreements on contract provisions, continues to engage in ULPs, and has proposed severe restrictions on the unionized staff that would leave them with fewer rights than they would have without a contract.
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Come and show your support! 
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10/14/2022

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Virtual Presentation


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Join us Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 6 PM on Zoom for the  OPEIU Local 2 Women's Committee's informative presentation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Register here!

9/16/2022

Register for the Upcoming Local 2 Membership Meeting, October 4 at 5:30 PM ET


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Register now for the upcoming Quarterly Membership Meeting on October 4, 2022 at 5:30 PM ET. You must pre-register for the meeting on Zoom to receive the link. Click here to register!
The deadline to register is October 3rd at 5 PM ET. Please be sure to register using your PERSONAL EMAIL. 
​We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

6/14/2022

Register for the Upcoming Local 2 Membership Meeting, July 5 at 5:30 PM ET



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Register now for the upcoming quarterly membership meeting on July 5, 2022 at 5:30 PM ET. ​ Click this link to register for the meeting on Zoom. Registration is required to receive the meeting link. 
 
So that meeting minutes can be sent out in a timely manner, the registration deadline is July 5th at 10 AM ET. Please be sure to register with your PERSONAL EMAIL - we cannot send minutes to work email addresses. We are looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

6/9/2022

Life Without Stress: Women's Committee Session on June 23

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Join us on Thursday, June 23 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM ET to discuss navigating unavoidable stressors in life with practicable tools from OPEIU Local 2 Shop Steward Nalishha Mehta—a skilled educator on meditation for activists, workers, and leaders. Register here!

5/6/2022

Stand with our Siblings! Red Cross Unions Rally on May 11


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Join our union brothers, sisters, and siblings at the Red Cross as they work toward a fair contract. A rally of all 10 Red Cross unions, including OPEIU, will convene from 11:30 - 1 PM ET on Wednesday, May 11. Turn out to support! RSVP to OPEIU Local 2 Organizer Kelly Russo at krusso@opeiu-local2.org. 
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    OPEIU Local 2 is a labor union supporting over 8,000 professional workers in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We represent staff members across a number of sectors, including healthcare, non-profit, and more. 

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