Kaiser Bargaining Update – October 6, 2023

Last night we got more indication that our strike is working: Kaiser sent two new proposals on issues we have been asking about for months. They have agreed to almost everything we asked for on these issues - that's the power of our strike line.

• Retiree Medical: In 2028, we will transition to the premium subsidy/Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) plan that the rest of Kaiser outside of California already has. Previously, that plan paid a premium subsidy for Medicare eligible retirees and spouses for a KP Senior Advantage plan. It also paid $2000 per year of service into a Health Reimbursement Account to cover out of pocket medical expenses, with an additional influx of $10,000 at age 85. Kaiser has now agreed to our proposed 25% increase to the HRA to $2500 per year of service and a 50% increase to the influx at age 85 to $15,000. Even better, they agreed to include our Coalition partners in Washington State, who were previously left out of the plan.
• PSP: We had three major goals in designing a more fair and reliable PSP.
  • Provide a minimum payout if we meet our goals, even if Kaiser doesn't make its financial target (like last year). Kaiser has now agreed that we can earn up to $1200 based on our goals, even when Kaiser doesn't meet their financial target.
  • Protect the full value of the plan (which Kaiser was trying to slash dramatically). Kaiser now agrees that we can earn up to $2800 (based on goals) if they do make their financial goals, and up to $3750 (based on goals) if they exceed their financial target by 2.5%.
  • Ensure any PSP attendance goal does not count legally protected leaves when measuring absences. Going forward, Kaiser has agreed to exclude vacation, ETO/PTO, holiday, legally protected leave like CESLA, FMLA, workers comp leave and jury duty, educational leave, life balance days (SoCal), military leave and union leave from any attendance goals. This is a huge improvement to the plan.

  Why do you think Kaiser moved significantly on both of these issues? Our strike of course! Kaiser only started to pay attention to our issues once we gave our strike notice, and now that they see what we can do, they are making a lot more movement. As we return to work and plan our November strike, we hope Kaiser will decide to bargain in good faith, take the outsourcing of the 1800 revenue cycle workers off the table, and provide the raises we need to recruit and retain quality staff and end the Kaiser short staffing crisis.

  Check out the complete side by side comparison of our proposals as they stand now: