Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance of Health Care Unions

KP and Alliance Reach Tentative Agreement on 4-year Contract

Story body part 1: 

Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance of Health Care Unions have reached tentative agreement on a 4-year contract, covering nearly 50,000 Kaiser Permanente health care employees in 22 local unions, and strengthening the Labor Management Partnership.

The agreement, reached November 13, 2021, includes new staffing language to continue to protect employees and patients, annual wage increases, and maintains benefits while providing career development and advancement opportunities for Alliance union-represented employees.

When ratified, the agreement will ensure Kaiser Permanente patients continue to receive safe, high-quality care and service; maintain Alliance union members’ industry-leading wages and benefits; and ensure Kaiser Permanente remains affordable for its members in the future. 

“The Alliance of Health Care Unions fought to preserve a Kaiser Permanente where patients can count on excellent patient care and service. This has guided our work for 24 years. This agreement will mean patients will continue to receive the best care, and Alliance members will have the best jobs,” said Hal Ruddick, executive director, Alliance of Health Care Unions. “This contract protects our patients, provides safe staffing, and guarantees fair wages and benefits for every Alliance member.”  

Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance unions have a longstanding history of successful bargaining to collaboratively address mutual interests of all parties.

“This landmark agreement positions Kaiser Permanente for a successful future focused on providing high-quality health care that is affordable and accessible for our more than 12 million members and the communities we serve. It also underscores our unwavering commitment to our employees by maintaining industry-leading wages and benefits,” said Christian Meisner, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Kaiser Permanente. “These were challenging negotiations, but this tentative agreement demonstrates the strength of our Labor Management Partnership and the unique success it can achieve when we work together.”

Details of the tentative agreement include:  

  • Wage increases: Guaranteed across-the-board wage increases each year through 2025 in every region for all Alliance-represented employees.
  • Health benefits: No reductions or takeaways to already low-cost family medical and dental coverage with the same low co-pays for prescriptions and office visits. 
  • Retirement benefits: The Agreement maintains generous retirement income benefits and employer-subsidized retiree medical. 
  • Bonus opportunities: Introduction of the Alliance Bonus Plan, which provides annual payouts for achieving new mutually-agreed-upon objectives to address affordability.
  • New safe staffing and workload language: Will ensure every Kaiser Permanente patient receives extraordinary care every time and in every place.
  • Opportunities for career growth: Alliance-represented employees will continue to have excellent career development and advancement opportunities.

The Alliance and Kaiser Permanente have agreed to form a national Affordability and Competitiveness Task Force with specific targets to find innovative ways to address issues of affordability while continuing to work together to protect high-quality patient care. 

The tentative agreement was approved by members of the economic subcommittee of the Alliance of Health Care Unions and will now go to the union members for ratification. Voting on the tentative agreement will occur over the next several weeks. A senior Kaiser Permanente leadership group must also give its formal approval. If ratified, the agreement will have an effective date of October 1, 2021.

In light of this, the Alliance unions have canceled their strike notifications. 

Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance are part of the longest running, most successful, and innovative labor management partnership in the nation. 

 

Negotiations End Without Tentative National Agreement

Story body part 1: 

Negotiators for Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance of Health Care Unions wrapped up their last scheduled bargaining session on Friday without tentative national or local agreements in place.

The parties have not agreed on wages and benefits.

The contract expires September 30, 2021, and to date, no new negotiation sessions have been scheduled.

KP and Alliance leaders praised subcommittee members for developing several key proposals that were adopted by labor and management on issues including patient and worker safety, and resolution of workplace disputes.

For the latest joint bargaining updates, visit bargaining2021.org.

Hank Spring 2016

Format: PDF

Size: 16 pages; print on 8.5" x 11" paper (for full-size, print on 11" x 14" and trim to 9.5" x 11.5")

Intended audience: Frontline workers, managers and physicians

Best used: Download the PDF or visit the Hank page to read all the stories online.

 

Hank Winter 2016

Format: PDF

Size: 16 pages; print on 8.5" x 11" paper (for full-size, print on 11" x 14" and trim to 9.5" x 11.5")

Intended audience: Frontline workers, managers and physicians

Best used: Download the PDF or use the links below to read the stories online.

Hank Spring 2015

Format: PDF

Size: 16 pages; print on 8.5" x 11" paper (for full-size, print on 11" x 14" and trim to 9.5" x 11.5")

Intended audience:  Frontline workers, managers and physicians

Best used: Download the PDF or read the stories online using the links below.

Hank Winter 2015

Format: PDF

Size: 16 pages; print on 8.5" x 11" paper (for full-size, print on 11" x 14" and trim to 9.5" x 11.5")

Intended audience:  Frontline workers, managers and physicians

Best used: Download the PDF or read all of the stories online by using the links below.

Hank Fall 2014

Format: PDF

Size: 16 pages; print on 8½” x 11” paper (for full-size, print on 11" x 14" and trim to 9.5" x 11.5")

Intended audience:  Frontline workers, managers and physicians

Best used: Download the PDF or read the issue online by using the links below.

Hank Spring 2014

Format: PDF

Size: 16 pages; print on 8½” x 11” paper (for full-size, print on 11" x 14" and trim to 9.5" x 11.5")

Intended audience:  Frontline workers, managers and physicians

Best used: Download the PDF or read the issue online:

Stories

 

Hank Winter 2014

Format: PDF

Size: 16 pages; print on 8½” x 11” paper (for full-size, print on 11" x 14" and trim to 9.5" x 11.5")

Intended audience:  Frontline workers, managers and physicians

Best used: Download the PDF or read all of the stories online by using the links below.

Pages

Subscribe to Bargaining 2021 RSS