KP National Bargaining Continues (May 26, 2021)


Our UNAC/UHCP National Bargaining Teams have been meeting for the past several weeks. Below is more information on the four non-economic subcommittees addressing the key issues in national bargaining this year.

Patient and worker safety
UNAC/UHCP Executive Vice President Charmaine Morales, RN, is a co-lead for the safety table. She sees this subcommittee’s charge as an opportunity to review what currently exists within KP and a chance to determine what improvements UNAC/UHCP and other Alliance union members need to feel safe. The group has also had discussions around psychological safety and burnout at work. With two sessions already under their belts, the subcommittee will meet again on June 8. Also serving on the bargaining team representing UNAC/UHCP are Representation Director Moises Alarcon, RN, and UPSC President Lawrence Louie, PharmD.

Problem and dispute resolution
Elizabeth Hawkins, RN, UNAC/UHCP State Secretary, says our aim is to streamline and simplify one uniform process across all regions and type of dispute. Each side will share interests on June 10 at the third bargaining session. UNAC/UHCP Representation Director Kim Smith, RN, and KPMWON President Tessa Hartfield, CNM, are also serving on the UNAC/UHCP bargaining team for this subcommittee.

Racial justice
UNAC/UHCP Representation Director Debra Sung, PT, bargaining team member, says the UNAC/UHCP team will be working towards two key goals: As health care professionals, adjusting care delivery to remove bias, and as employees, finding ways to change internal KP outcomes to ensure inclusion. This subcommittee bargained for two days so far and returns to the virtual table on June 3. KPASCO President David Huang, OD, and SCNSC President North Liza Ventura, RN, are additional bargaining team members representing UNAC/UHCP.

Staffing, travelers and backfill
Co-lead for the staffing subcommittee, UNAC/UHCP Treasurer Peter Sidhu, RN, made a push for a review in how core staffing is determined and implemented. The next session will include a deep dive into interests from both sides. This table has had two bargaining sessions already. The group will meet next on June 8. UNAC/UHCP Representation Director Vanessa Caballero, KDRNA Medical Office President Pam Brodersen, NP, and UTSC President Bianka Tulgar, PT, are serving with Peter on the bargaining team.


SHARE YOUR STORY

As our bargaining teams meet with KP management to negotiate, it’s important to have real life stories from members to share along with data. In particular, stories that relate to topics under discussion in the subcommittees is valuable to help illustrate the impact.

📢 Please click here to share your story


TOWN HALL TOMORROW

The Alliance of Health Care Unions, the 54,000-member group of KP unions of which UNAC/UHCP is a part, is hosting a town hall meeting tomorrow, Thursday, May 27, 2021 at four different times.

During this live, interactive phone session with union leaders, you’ll hear updates from each of the National Bargaining sub-committee meetings and the next steps in our national contract campaign.

  • 9:00 AM PT/6:00 AM HT
  • 12:00 PM PT/9:00 AM HT
  • 6:00 PM PT/3:00 PM HT
  • 8:00 PM PT/5:00 PM HT

đź“ž RSVP to attend the town hall