The Conversation asked Michael McQuarrie[6], an Arizona State University sociologist who directs its Center for Work and Democracy, to explain what’s in the settlement and why it matters.
The contract notably also includes a new hourly minimum wage for Kaiser workers in California, which will increase to US$25 by 2026. That pay level will be required of all California health care employers by that time, however, because California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law[8] to that effect.
Bonuses for working shifts that include hours after 5:30 p.m. would rise to $3.25 an hour, I’ve learned from workers involved in the negotiations. That means if this contract is ratified, these evening and night shifts would see an increase from $2 in the 2019-2023 contract[12]. Without that monetary incentive, workers usually try to get more desirable daytime shifts, increasing turnover and exacerbating staffing gaps at night.
The new contract would also leave in place restrictions on Kaiser’s ability to outsource or subcontract union jobs, which were included in the prior contract[13] that Kaiser and the unions agreed upon in 2019.
And the coalition of unions has agreed to streamline the process for internal bidding on open positions to help Kaiser resolve staffing shortfalls. In addition, the contract includes provisions for training new health care workers that the union had sought.
The deal will set a minimum hourly wage of $25 in California, where many of Kaiser Permanente’s facilities are located, and $23 in other states.
Why did workers feel the strike was necessary, and did it achieve their aims?
My contacts within the union told me that they had the impression that Kaiser had essentially withdrawn from negotiations in the weeks leading up to the strike – although its management team did return to the table at the eleventh hour before the strike began. The bargaining officially began in April 2023[14].
The unions in the coalition had rejected the terms Kaiser was offering at that point, which included lower wages and plans to expand its reliance on subcontracted workers[15]. Kaiser also never responded to the coalition’s last economic proposal until the last-minute negotiations[16] that failed to avert a strike.
That Kaiser’s engagement in talks with the unions increased after the strike suggests that the unions’ actions made a big difference. So does the fact that Kaiser ultimately agreed to terms that were closer to the unions’ original demands on wages, benefits and subcontracting once workers went on strike than it had previously said it would accept.
How have workers responded to the proposed settlement?
Union members have to vote in favor of ratification for this contract to go into effect. Leaders of the strike and workers who were involved in the negotiations have told me they’re optimistic that this will happen. Voting began on Oct. 18[22] and should conclude by Nov. 3[23].
The Conversation asked Michael McQuarrie[6], an Arizona State University sociologist who directs its Center for Work and Democracy, to explain what’s in the settlement and why it matters.
The contract notably also includes a new hourly minimum wage for Kaiser workers in California, which will increase to US$25 by 2026. That pay level will be required of all California health care employers by that time, however, because California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law[8] to that effect.
Bonuses for working shifts that include hours after 5:30 p.m. would rise to $3.25 an hour, I’ve learned from workers involved in the negotiations. That means if this contract is ratified, these evening and night shifts would see an increase from $2 in the 2019-2023 contract[12]. Without that monetary incentive, workers usually try to get more desirable daytime shifts, increasing turnover and exacerbating staffing gaps at night.
The new contract would also leave in place restrictions on Kaiser’s ability to outsource or subcontract union jobs, which were included in the prior contract[13] that Kaiser and the unions agreed upon in 2019.
And the coalition of unions has agreed to streamline the process for internal bidding on open positions to help Kaiser resolve staffing shortfalls. In addition, the contract includes provisions for training new health care workers that the union had sought.
The deal will set a minimum hourly wage of $25 in California, where many of Kaiser Permanente’s facilities are located, and $23 in other states.
Why did workers feel the strike was necessary, and did it achieve their aims?
My contacts within the union told me that they had the impression that Kaiser had essentially withdrawn from negotiations in the weeks leading up to the strike – although its management team did return to the table at the eleventh hour before the strike began. The bargaining officially began in April 2023[14].
The unions in the coalition had rejected the terms Kaiser was offering at that point, which included lower wages and plans to expand its reliance on subcontracted workers[15]. Kaiser also never responded to the coalition’s last economic proposal until the last-minute negotiations[16] that failed to avert a strike.
That Kaiser’s engagement in talks with the unions increased after the strike suggests that the unions’ actions made a big difference. So does the fact that Kaiser ultimately agreed to terms that were closer to the unions’ original demands on wages, benefits and subcontracting once workers went on strike than it had previously said it would accept.
How have workers responded to the proposed settlement?
Union members have to vote in favor of ratification for this contract to go into effect. Leaders of the strike and workers who were involved in the negotiations have told me they’re optimistic that this will happen. Voting began on Oct. 18[22] and should conclude by Nov. 3[23].
