|
Ask Dr. Weisz to Respond
We have asked Kaiser leaders, including Dr. Jeffrey Weisz, medical director and chairman of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, to let us know what steps he will take to bargain a fair contract with the specialty practice nurses. So far, we haven't heard back from Dr. Weisz. Please take a moment to remind Dr. Weisz that we are still waiting to hear from him.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Awaiting Your Response
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Recently, my UNAC/UHCP colleagues and I wrote to you asking you to let us know what steps you will take to ensure Kaiser leaders negotiate a fair contract with the specialty practice nurses.
So far, we have not heard back from you. These nurses deserve to be paid fairly and to retain their benefits.
Please let me know what you will do to ensure equity for these hard-working health care professionals.
Best wishes for a fair and just new year.
Sincerely,
|
Campaign Launched:
December 20, 2007
|
In March, speciality practice nurses at Kaiser throughout Southern California decided to join UNAC/UHCP for a voice on the job. These hard-working health care professionals want a say in working conditions and a voice in improving patient care and effeciency at Kaiser. Since summertime, they've been negotiating a first contract with Kaiser, and making a lot of progress.
But once discussions turned to wages and benefits, Kaiser stopped showing them much respect.
The Kaiser Permanente Specialty Practice Nurses Association of Southern California wants a wage package that is equitable when compared to other UNAC/UHCP nurses. Kaiser’s wage proposal does nothing to address existing inequities. In fact, the company's wage and benefit proposal would move these nurses backwards.
There are many examples of senior Kaiser nurses—nurses with 15, 20, 25 years of Kaiser service—being paid significantly less than nurses with just one or two years of Kaiser experience.
There are per diem nurses earning less than benefited nurses, even though they don’t receive benefits.
KPSPNASC wants to maintain and improve their benefits. When the optometrists negotiated with Kaiser, the company let the O.D.s keep their benefits. But Kaiser wants to take away these nurses' benefits.
In Orange County, a manager posted the work schedule, then abruptly and unilaterally changed it drastically. He even changed nurses’ scheduled work days and shifts. Only after the union intervened did the manager do the right thing.
The members of the Kaiser Permanente Specialty Practice Nurses Association of Southern California have attended informational meetings to learn more about the contract proposals. They've been wearing stickers that state our simple yet powerful demand: No RN Left Behind. They've signed pledge cards, voicing support for the bargaining team. Now it's time to tell top Kaiser leaders to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract that shows respect for the high quality care we all provide our patients every day.
|
