Acupuncture Providers Bargaining Team
Jorge Intal, PhD, DAOM, Dipl. OM, LAc
Diana Kobland, Dipl. OM, LAc
Grace Ouchida, DACM, Dipl. OM, LAc
Jun Lim, UNAC/UHCP Legal Director, lead negotiator
Eric Wiesner, UNAC/UHCP Legal Counsel, second chair
Bargaining Update: November 21, 2025
Bargaining continued this week on November 17-19 in Los Angeles. Our team passed proposals to management specifically addressing:
- Advanced Hire criteria
- ETO process/ scheduling
As of this week management has received every proposal we have to give them and the ball is in their court to respond to us. Bargaining will continue in December. When dates have been settled upon those will be announced to the membership.
Acupuncturists and therapists bargaining together have pushed through this sometimes difficult process as the acupuncturists work toward a first contract and join the existing therapist bargaining unit.
Still, our bargaining team has advanced member-driven priorities around:
- Workload
- Earned time off
- Hours of work
- Overtime
- Fair compensation
- A wage grid that finally includes advance-hire criteria for acupuncturists
And, we have won key Tentative Agreements (TAs) on:
- Workload
- Bereavement leave
- Hours of work and overtime
- Recognition and coverage
- Per diem commitments
- The inclusion of acupuncturists in union benefit plans
We continue to push for:
- Transparent PTO processes
- Earlier access to ESL
- A transition agreement as the bargaining unit moves to a non-exempt status
With major economic issues now on the table, member solidarity—at bargaining, on picket lines, and through Blue Thursdays—remains essential as the team fights for a contract that respects our members work and the care they provide.
In Unity,
Your ATNC Bargaining Team
Bargaining Update #18: Nov. 15, 2025
Your ATNC bargaining team met this week at the new UNAC/UHCP Headquarters in the City of Industry. We completed and passed our proposal for a regional Earned-Time-Off (ETO) process that ensures employees have meaningful opportunities to take the time off, while still honoring seniority and preserving appropriate local flexibility.
Management’s response rejected much of the language related to local input and added provisions that could impact transparency and the availability of PTO slots. We will continue refining our proposal to ensure it reflects our members’ priorities.
We also internally reviewed and sharpened our interests regarding the wage grid, including progression, longevity differentials, advance-hire criteria, and placement for acupuncture providers, in preparation for next week’s economic subgroup sessions at National Bargaining.
Additionally, management passed proposals on advance-hire criteria and a transition plan for moving our group from exempt to non-exempt status. We engaged in discussions about the amount of prior non-KP experience that should be considered for advance-hire, as well as the need for more concrete language around the status transition plan—such as PMT placement and clarity around appointment types that may be affected by break requirements.
National Bargaining continues next week in Los Angeles. ATNC will be represented in-person by our lead negotiator, legal team, and president, while the rest of the team participates virtually in these critical discussions.
As we enter this pivotal phase, please stay connected with your CAT members and stewards and watch for updates and further communication from UNAC/UHCP. Thank you for continuing to wear blue and UNAC/UHCP swag on bargaining days. This has been a challenging and exhausting process, but your support continues to uplift us.
In Unity,
Your ATNC Bargaining Team
Bargaining Update: November 9, 2025
Bargaining Report
Our ATNC bargaining team returned to the bargaining table in Los Angeles this week on November 4-5.
We continue to grapple with several big issues concerning Personal Time Off (PTO). We are exploring creating a default regional process for requesting PTO. The process would include clear and widely applicable guidelines while still allowing opportunity for local input regarding the details around implementation. We remain committed to establishing a process that is objective, equitable, and transparent so that members have the opportunity to take time off as needed.
We passed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to management that obligates labor and management to explore creating a lead job classification for acupuncture providers. Our proposed LOA recognizes that there are acupuncture providers who perform duties above and beyond their standard job description, including triaging referrals and implementing acupuncture programs at the local level.
A bargaining town hall meeting is scheduled for November 11 at 7:30pm. Please watch your email for details on how to join.
Your bargaining team returns to Southern California next week for bargaining on November 12-14 at UNAC/UHCP’s new headquarters in the City of Industry.
As always, thank you for your support and for wearing blue on bargaining days.
In Unity,
Your ATNC Bargaining Team
Bargaining Update: October 30, 2025
Bargaining Report
During bargaining this week on October 28-29 our team continued to push for inclusion of contract language that would require the number of PTO slots created to match actual department accrual. Management’s reluctance appeared to be from the fact that a non-exempt (hourly) status would require employees to consume more PTO for activities other than vacation, such as medical appointments. Further internal discussions have been scheduled to ensure our members have access to their well-deserved time off. We anticipate a Tentative Agreement on this article in the near future.
We reached a Tentative Agreement on Hours of Work and Overtime. Highlights include:
- No-cancellation language for extra hours/shifts (for all employees) which was a considerable win, as management initially insisted on their right to cancel extra shifts at the last minute.
- Retention of our current language defining evening and night shifts, which are subject to differentials.
- Acknowledgement that approval of overtime is not always feasible prior to its occurrence, due to the nature of our work.
- A commitment to a period of transition and training as we move from exempt to non-exempt.
- Memorialization of the current practice of trades, temporary schedule changes, and self-coverage.
Next up our bargaining team’s focus will intensify on resolving our outstanding economic issues. PTO accrual, wage grid structure, as well as advanced hire criteria will be the focus of our discussions as the Economic Subcommittee at National Bargaining continues to negotiate unprecedented across-the-board wage increases for the Alliance Unions.
In Unity,
Your ATNC Bargaining Team
Bargaining Update: October 24, 2025
Bargaining Report
This week during bargaining on October 22-23, we continued discussions addressing the language around evening and night differentials, stressing the importance of maintaining the current shift definitions to avoid disadvantaging therapists working later shifts.
Regarding the proposed movement of ATNC members who are currently in exempt status moving to non-exempt status, management reconfirmed their commitment not to cancel any regularly scheduled shifts. We continue to seek solutions on how to approach timelines around cancellation of extra shifts/hours while maintaining flexibility for both sides.
In support of our interest to include work location and setting in the definition of “schedule” our team demonstrated through multiple examples why we view this to be necessary. Management rejected all language that would tie either to the posting of schedules, insisting on the need for flexibility and the right of management to shift staff where needed up to and including at the last minute. We will continue to push for better protections around how scheduling is approached.
Lastly, we discussed how PTO slots are created and made available for usage throughout the year. Our interest to create enough slots to accommodate the accruals of the department over the year continues to meet with resistance from the management side.
Our next bargaining sessions are scheduled for October 28-29 in Los Angeles.
Thank you for the amazing turnout on the picket lines last week in Oakland, Roseville and Santa Clara. We are in awe of how all the NCAL groups came together in a fantastic show of unity to make this strike so successful. We especially want to thank all the strike captains who worked tirelessly to help ensure everything ran smoothly – we could not have done this without you.
💙💚
In Unity,
Your ATNC Bargaining Team
Bargaining Update: September 29, 2025
Bargaining Report
Our ATNC bargaining team worked hard last week on passing a comprehensive package proposal around all of our outstanding Articles:
- PTO
- Hours of Work and OT
- Workload
- Compensation
- Replacement Wage Grid proposal
Our wage grid proposal is critical, as we will seek to place our Acupuncture providers on it for the first time as well as incorporating advanced hire criteria for attracting new providers of all types into our bargaining unit moving forward. Significant progress on these issues will be a necessary contingency as we investigate potentially converting our entire bargaining unit to non-exempt status..
While no management response was formally given to our package proposal, we are anticipating one, along with our awaited response to our seniority proposal, when we resume Monday, September 29 at the Wyndam hotel in San Diego.
Bargaining Update: September 20, 2025
Bargaining Report
During three days of bargaining this week on September 17, 18 and 19 we are pleased to announce that our team reached Tentative Agreement (TA) with management on the following:
- Use of gender neutral language throughout CBA
- Establishment of per diem commitment (preserves the privilege of per diem employees to provide availability and maintain existing work commitments to the employer)
In less exciting news management passed to us a proposal outlining a choice of status for our bargaining unit members.
The choice is outlined as:
- All members currently under exempt status change to non-exempt status, or
- All members currently under exempt status remain exempt (however any preferential pay practices currently enjoyed under the existing contract as well as any differentials in pay that were established are eliminated for those members.)
At this past Wednesday’s ATNC town hall meeting we extensively reviewed the Employer’s radical proposal. During the meeting, many members asked whether or not there was a choice to remain exempt with the preferential pay practices in place. Unfortunately, status quo is only in place while we are still covered under the terms of the current contract. Under the Union’s duty to bargain in good faith, we must respond to the Employer’s proposal.
Bargaining Update: September 13, 2025
UTNC and APU Have Joined to Become: Acupuncturists and Therapists of Northern California (ATNC)
We are pleased to announce the name of our newly combined affiliate, the Acupuncturists and Therapists of Northern California (ATNC). Together we will move forward in contract bargaining and in solidarity with one another. Welcome sisters and brothers to ATNC!
Over three days of bargaining this week on September 9, 10, and 11 we reached Tentative Agreement (TA) on two matters of importance:
- Recognition and Coverage
- Letter of Agreement on accretion of acupuncture providers into union benefits plans
There is more work to do before we have a complete contract and we will continue to push for improvements for our members at every opportunity.
We remain far apart from management on several important issues, including:
- Workload
- Hours of work and overtime
- Earned Time Off
And, we have not received a response from management on our economic proposals which are inclusive of advance hire placement. For reference our economic proposal was submitted to management in mid-July.
Management continues to suggest that a change from exempt status to hourly status would be a positive. We have asked management for a list of ways that such a change would prove beneficial to our members and they have not provided anything new to support the idea.
Sympathy Strike
September 8, 2025
Standing with our CNMs and CRNAs
The Certified Nurse Midwives and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are going out on a one day strike on Monday, September 8. Yesterday our APU bargaining team submitted notice to sympathy strike in solidarity.
Our members may only go out on a sympathy strike in locations where our CNM and CRNA colleagues work. We have been invited to join the strike town hall for the CNMs and CRNAs on September 2, at 8pm. Join this important meeting to learn about what they are fighting for and how to support their efforts.
Essential Strike Information:
Strike Town Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m.
Click here to register for the town hall meeting.
Strike Day
Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at 7 a.m. and ending at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.
Picket Times and Locations
Kaiser Permanente
Roseville Medical Center and Medical Office Buildings located at 1600, 1640, and 1660 Eureka Road, Roseville, CA 95661.
Kaiser Permanente
Oakland Medical Center
3600 and 3701 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611
Picketing will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at both locations.
Take the Pledge!
Show that you are ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract that protects our patients, uplifts our communities, and secures our professions.
Tens of thousands of UNAC/UHCP members have already signed the Unity Petition. Now it’s time to take the pledge.
Already pledged? Encourage your co-workers to join you.
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update August 22, 2025
At this week’s bargaining session, we won our first two Tentative Agreements (TAs). The first TA expands the Regional Practice Groups’ Steering Committee to include two acupuncture providers. Regional Practice Groups give healthcare professionals a voice on the job in developing policies and best practices for care-delivery innovation and improvement. The second TA, Bidding and Postings, requires that acupuncture providers within the bargaining unit be given preference over outside applicants when filling open positions, and also allows us to designate up to two acupuncture providers for any interview team to fill those openings.
Both TAs build and improve on protections in the current the United Therapists of Northern California (UTNC) collective bargaining agreement, and ensure that acupuncture providers share in their benefits. UTNC is a local affiliate of UNAC/UHCP that currently represents physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Earlier this year, we decided to combine with UTNC to have more power to address core issues experienced by healthcare professionals in our region.
Our bargaining team also provided a comprehensive compensation proposal, including a wage grid that, if accepted, would provide significant wage increases for many Acupuncture Providers and make KP more competitive in attracting and retaining employees.
Upcoming Bargaining Sessions
We meet again with management on August 25 and August 26 in Oakland, California. At these sessions, we will join forces with the UTNC bargaining team to continue negotiating key provisions that impact the entire unit, such as workload and economics.
We know that our power at the bargaining table comes from the strength of our numbers, so bargaining as a single unit with acupuncture providers and rehabilitation therapists will allow us to make gains that neither team would be able to achieve on its own.
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update August 18, 2025
We met with management on August 14, 2025, in Oakland, California. We presented counter-proposals to management on two key issues:
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Regional Practice Groups: Our counter-proposal would give Acupuncture Providers a powerful voice in developing workplace policies that impact their practice area.
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Non-Discrimination: Our counter proposal would strengthen non-discrimination protections.
Management provided proposals on eligibility criteria for the employer-sponsored retirement plan, seniority, and representation on interview teams for new Acupuncture Providers.
We are considering management’s proposals and plan to respond at the next bargaining session.
Upcoming Bargaining Sessions
We meet again with management on:
• August 20, 2025
• August 26, 2025
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update August 11, 2025
We had another constructive day of bargaining in Oakland, California, on August 7, 2025. The session started with bargaining team member and Oakland Acupuncture Provider Jorge Intal making a powerful presentation to management highlighting the rapid rise in demand for acupuncture services at Kaiser in recent years, and the challenges to meeting that demand while ensuring the highest levels of patient care and safe working conditions for Acupuncture Providers. Alongside the presentation, our team presented a package of interrelated proposals addressing the core issues of understaffing and unreasonable workload demands on Acupuncture Providers. We await the employer’s response to these proposals.
From management, we received their counter-proposal to our Earned Time Off proposal. Management also presented its first proposal concerning an Acupuncture Provider wage grid. While the Union has not yet responded to the proposal, we will continue to press forward in our fight for fair and equitable wages for Acupuncture Providers.
At the end of the session, we responded to the employer’s counter-proposal regarding seniority, which includes protections for employees in the event of layoffs.
We are in the process of formulating responses to other counter-proposals from the employer. We remain committed to working for a contract that supports both high-quality patient care and fair, sustainable working conditions for our members.
Upcoming Bargaining Sessions
Our next contract negotiations with management are scheduled for:
• August 14, 2025
• August 20, 2025
• August 26, 2025
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update July 25, 2025
A Powerful Display of Unity Amid Contract Talks
We had two productive days of bargaining in Oakland, California, on July 23 and July 24, 2025. We exchanged proposals and counter-proposals that covered these key topics:
• Seniority
• Non-discrimination
• Earned time off
• Non-discrimination
• Regional practice groups
The employer also passed a “supposal” regarding scheduling; this proposal was made after both sides engaged in numerous interest-based discussions surrounding workload. A “supposal” is an unofficial proposal that outlines a possibility for a formal proposal.
Unity Petition Action
We joined several UNAC/UHCP bargaining teams in a coordinated two-day action to serve the employer with Unity Petitions, which call for contracts with fair compensation, safe staffing, and respect for the providers.
- July 23: United PAs of California (UPAC), the United Nurses Anesthetists of California (UNANC), and a bargaining team member of the Northern California Association of Midwives (NCAM) joined forces to serve stacks of Unity Petitions to their management counterparts.
- July 24: Acupuncture Providers delivered more than 50 petitions, presented by Grace Ouchida, DACM, who spoke compellingly about Kaiser’s disrespect for our profession. A United Therapists of Northern California (UTNC) officer spoke of UTNC’s solidarity with the Acupuncture Providers while the entire UPAC bargaining team stood in solidarity to witness the petition delivery.
This two-day action demonstrated powerful solidarity across bargaining units and sent a clear message that we are united for a fair contract.
Upcoming Bargaining Sessions
Our next contract negotiations with management are scheduled for:
• August 14, 2025
• August 20, 2025
• August 26, 2025
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update July 3, 2025
Patient and Provider Safety Takes Center Stage in Latest Bargaining Sessions
Our bargaining team convened for negotiations on July 1 and 2, 2025. The sessions commenced with management’s request for an interest-based discussion focused on workplace safety concerns.
Members of our bargaining team spoke powerfully about how workload and scheduling issues are key elements of patient and provider safety. Acupuncture providers gave a vivid and detailed description of a typical patient appointment, pointing out all of the points where insufficient time and resources may negatively impact safety.
Management listened intently and expressed a common interest in addressing the safety concerns that the providers raised. Ultimately, management stated that it needed time to further deliberate over the information that the bargaining team provided, and committed to continuing the conversation at the next bargaining session.
The next bargaining sessions will be held on July 23 and 24 in Oakland, CA.
Upcoming Town Hall Meeting
The bargaining team will hold a virtual town hall meeting at 7 p.m. on July 7, 2025. More information will be forthcoming shortly.
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update June 27, 2025
First Proposal Seeks to Amplify Voice on the Job
Our bargaining team met with management on June 23 and June 24 in Oakland. We presented our first proposal to management, which would create Regional Practice Groups (RPGs) that would give Acupuncture Providers a real voice on the job to shape policies and practices that affect them across all departments and facilities. Our bargaining team members delivered eloquent testimony explaining how RPGs would strengthen the professional standing and operational effectiveness of Acupuncture Providers throughout the region. Management listened intently and asked follow-up questions on the proposal and committed to having a response soon.
During our labor caucus, we met with the United Therapists of Northern California (UTNC) bargaining team to jointly develop a proposal on Seniority and Reductions in Force. Our collaborative effort seeks to set clear protocols should workforce reductions take place, with the goal of minimizing the negative impacts on members.
Management gave us their proposal on Paid Time Off (PTO). We are reviewing it and crafting a response that prioritizes increased PTO allocation and enhanced flexibility in utilization policies.
What’s Next?
Our next contract negotiation is scheduled for July 1 and July 2 in Berkeley, CA.
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update May 29, 2025
Building A Shared Purpose
Our bargaining session this week opened with a powerful moment: Acupuncture providers shared why they chose to unionize and spoke to the challenges they face on the job.
Jorge, Diana, and Grace spoke with clarity and conviction about their work, emphasizing the importance of having a strong voice in the workplace to protect both providers and patients. Their stories—invited by the management team—highlight the unique role acupuncture plays in patient care, and the urgent need for representation and support.
A Meaningful Platform for Providers
Management negotiators were engaged and receptive throughout the conversation. They asked thoughtful questions and showed a genuine interest in understanding the acupuncture profession more deeply. With no acupuncture providers currently on the management team, several acknowledged that they’re still learning about the field.
Using interest-based bargaining principles, both sides recognized a shared goal: Create a meaningful platform for acupuncture providers to help shape the policies and practices that affect their work across all departments and facilities.
We’re still early in the process, but each session builds our momentum and strengthens our resolve. Thank you for standing with us: We feel your support every step of the way.
Our Bargaining Team
Our bargaining team is working hard to represent us. They are:
• Jorge Intal, PhD, DAOM, Dipl. OM, LAc, jorge.intal[at]gmail.com
• Diana Kobland, Dipl. OM, LAc, dkobland[at]gmail.com
• Grace Ouchida, DACM, Dipl. OM, LAc, elementalgrace[at]gmail.com
• Jun Lim, UNAC/UHCP Legal Director, lead negotiator
• Eric Wiesner, UNAC/UHCP Legal Counsel, second chair
What’s Next?
The next bargaining session is on June 23 and 24 in Oakland, CA. Please contact one of the bargaining team members if you have any questions.
Acupuncture Providers: Bargaining Update May 8, 2025
Fired Up for Our First Contract
On Monday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 6, we met with management in Oakland, CA to start our contract negotiations. We applied the principles of Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) that we learned in a joint labor-management training last week to this week’s discussions.
We had productive dialogue with management about ground rules, which will help focus our conversations to be rooted in shared interests and collaborative problem-solving. During our caucus time, we formulated a list of interests and began to craft language for our proposals. The acupuncture providers decided to combine with the much larger United Therapists of Northern California (UTNC) bargaining unit to have increased power to address fundamental issues common to all healthcare professionals in our region. We are currently conducting our own bargaining sessions to address challenges specific to our profession and practice.
We are excited to have started bargaining our first contract. While we were disappointed that management refused to reduce several verbally agreed-to ground rules into writing, we remain optimistic that both sides remain committed to IBB principles and to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement.
Our Bargaining Team
Our bargaining team is working hard to represent us. They are:
• Jorge Intal, PhD, DAOM, Dipl. OM, LAc, jorge.intal[at]gmail.com
• Diana Kobland, Dipl. OM, LAc, dkobland[at]gmail.com
• Grace Ouchida, DACM, Dipl. OM, LAc, elementalgrace[at]gmail.com
• Jun Lim, UNAC/UHCP Legal Director, lead negotiator
• Eric Wiesner, UNAC/UHCP Legal Counsel, second chair
What’s Next?
The next bargaining session is on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Berkeley, CA. Please contact one of the bargaining team members if you have any questions.