2025 Local Bargaining Updates

Local and National Bargaining Updates

Joel Maya
May 16, 2025
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Local Bargaining Update – Day 7

May 16, 2025

Today marked Day 7 of Local Bargaining between USW Local 7600 and Kaiser Permanente. The Union Bargaining Committee continued pushing forward on behalf of our members, offering further clarification on proposals previously submitted to management. Our team is standing firm on improvements that matter most to our members.

“It’s been impressive—the way this Local Bargaining Committee and the largest CAT team this Local has ever had are showing up. This has been an incredibly effective, well-organized team of Steelworkers, who are taking action to get us the best contract possible.”
— Shig Noguchi, USW International Staff Representative

Some of the proposals submitted by the Union include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Wage gap between IE, LA, and OC
  • Healthcare Minimum Wage impacts & wage scale expansion
  • Differentials
  • Alternative Shifts
  • 12-hour Shift Agreements
  • On-Call Availability
  • Time Off Improvements
  • Education Opportunities
  • Remote Work Access

Next Local Bargaining Date: June 9

National Bargaining Update – May 6–8 

USW Local 7600 played a key role in National Bargaining this past week. Here’s a quick snapshot of the work being done:

USW Local 7600 Representation on the Common Issues Committee (CIC):

  • Micheal Barnett – CIC Member for the Staffing and Economics Subgroups
  • Dolores Hunsaker – Co Chair / CIC member for the Artificial Intelligence Subgroup
  • Megan Butler – CIC Member for the Partnership Effectiveness Subgroup
  • Tammi Requejo – CIC Member for the Staffing Subgroup
  • Gaylan Prescott – CIC Member for the Economic and Partnership Effectiveness Subgroups
  • Shig Noguchi – CIC Member for the Artificial Intelligence Subgroup
  • Tamara Lefcowitz – Subject Matter Expert for the Artificial Intelligence Subgroup

 

Key Focus Areas at the Table:

  • Staffing & Patient Care – Ensuring proper implementation and sustainable staffing plans
  • Technology & AI – Co-led by Interim Vice President Dolores Hunsaker, focused on protecting our work and guiding responsible use of AI
  • Partnership Effectiveness – Strengthening UBTs, Just Culture, and the Labor Management Partnership


 

Observers Representing Local 7600
These members are present at National Bargaining—ask them what they’re seeing, hearing, and learning:

Adrain Jones
Amanda J. Campa-Estrada
Andrea Arzola
Angelica Roacho
Ashley Boggs
Caroline I. Loza
Chris Garbutt
Christopher D. Holguin
Christopher I. Bowen
Dennis Carlson
Joel Maya
Karina De La Rosa
Leslie Peña
Lorena Penate
Maggie Hernandez
Natalya N. Stevens
Priscilla Covarrubias
Raquel Fierro
Ross A. Veckey II
Tamara Bryan
Tamara Lefcowitz
Tiffany Chavarin
Walter Castro
Yanet Alejo
Yrla Galaviz


 

Next National Bargaining Date: June 3, 2025
 

United and Unstoppable.
Let’s stay ready to act. Let’s keep building power. Let’s win the contract we deserve.

#USW7600Strong #Bargaining2025 #OneVoiceOneFuture