HONOLULU (KHON2) — At the end of September, 62,000 Kaiser employee contracts will expire nationwide, and many are looking to settle contract negotiations before then.
On Monday, Sept. 15, the Strike Authorization vote began in order to give Union leadership time to call for a strike if negotiations aren’t settled before the expiration date on Sept. 30.
“It’s important to understand that a strike authorization vote is a common bargaining tactic used to rally union members. It does not mean a strike is inevitable and operations at our facilities continue as usual,” a Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said.
Local contract bargaining began in April, covering more than 1,900 Kaiser employees in Hawaiʻi who are represented by Local 5.
“Our compensation philosophy is to pay as much as 10% above the market in which our employees work. Our employees represented by Local 5 are paid at or above the market level,” a Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said.
In Hawaiʻi, it has been reported that Kaiser employees are paid 30% less and receive different benefits from employees on the continent.
National bargaining began in May; these Kaiser employees are a part of the Alliance of Healthcare Unions.
“We remain focused on reaching an agreement that supports employees, maintains our position as a best place to work, and continues to ensure access to affordable, high-quality care for our members,” Kaiser said in a statement.
The Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said, “Our current offer (as of Sept. 12) provides Alliance-represented employees strong across-the-board wage increases totaling 20% over the 4 years of the contract, including a historic first-year increase.”
Workers hope to see fair wage increases, ensured well-being protection and quality patient care prioritized.
“Kaiser Permanente and the Alliance continue to make meaningful progress in negotiations, and we remain committed to continuing productive discussions to reach a fair agreement,” a Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said.
With 50,000 Kaiser workers represented by other Unions in different regions, they are also preparing strike authorization votes.
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Rallies will begin Friday, Sept. 19, on Oahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island if demands aren’t met.
“Under current labor laws, a union is required to provide at least 10 days’ notice before initiating a strike. As of now, no such notice has been received,” a Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said. “We take any threat to disrupt care for our members seriously and have robust plans to ensure our members and patients will have continued access to high-quality care in the event of a work stoppage.”