The Finish!

Over a week ago, the final tentative agreement was presented, approved unanimously by consensus, and we all stood up and cheered and applauded. Both sides clearly felt that their interests were met. 9% ATBs, and extra 9% for NoCal psychologists to bring us up to parity with SoCal, and NO LOSSES in our benefit package. We are protected for two years. The agreement was that we will work in partnership with management to find a way to keep on affording our benefits, especially medical and retiree medical. The great unknown is how health care reform will impact Kaiser. one thing we do know, the new markets opening up in Medical and medicare, are not very profitable. We must expand in to new markets and new regions. I hear critics of our union say that we are "corporate", and not "democratic". I believe that those two constructs are wedded in the LMP. Both labor and management have one common interest for sure - keeping the business profitable over the long haul. You may know by now that in my IBHS Bargaining Unit, there is a petition at the NLRB for a a decertification election. let us all make sure that we reap the benefits of months of hard work on this contract by spreading the word. If we decertify SEIU-UHW, there will be no raises, no LMP, no coalition membership, and possible large increases in our cost of benefits. Tell everyone to be sure and RATIFY this agreement, and VOTE NO to NUHW!