Kaiser Workers Net Pay Hike, Better Insurance In New Labor Agreement

A new labor agreement has been reached between one of America’s largest health care HMOs -- Kaiser Permanente -- and 30,000 workers in Northern California.

Statewide, 105,000 unionized Kaiser Permanente workers in 28 union locals are covered by the tentative new agreement, according to a joint statement put out by the massive HMO and a coalition of union members.

The proposed contract gives workers a 2-to-4 percent pay hike, depending on where they work and when their current contract expires. A joint statement said the agreement also includes enhancement to dental
insurance, life insurance and tuition reimbursement.

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The union coalition’s executive director, Hal Ruddick, told City News Service the agreement “is remarkable’’ and continues an 18-year strategy between the company an its workers. It has great wages and benefits,’’ he said. “’It continues to give workers a voice in the workplace, and a way to address workplace challenges.’’

A Kaiser official also was effusive. “This is an outstanding agreement that deepens our ability to provide affordable, high quality care to our members and patients,’’ he said in the joint statement heralding the proposed
deal.

Kaiser has 10 million HMO patients, and is the largest health agency of its type in the nation. In addition to 30,000 employees in Nothern California, the proposed contract covers 51,000 workers in Southern California, 8,500 people in the Pacific Northwest, and others in Colorado, Georgia, the Washington D.C. area and Hawaii.

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--City News Service contributed to this report

--Shutterstock image.