National Bargaining November Update – Session 9
(From left to right: Brian C. Williams Teamsters, Tammi Requejo, Megan Butler, Dolores Hunsaker, Micheal Barnett USW, Don Henley Teamsters.)
National Bargaining Update – Session 9
We returned to negotiations on Monday and completed this round of bargaining this week. We made modest progress on several outstanding issues — including securing a Tentative Agreement (TA) establishing a Strategic Leadership Council (SLC) of KP and Alliance Union leadership. The SLC will help shape long-term decisions, including how Kaiser navigates unanticipated pressures from the Big Beautiful Bill and protects frontline workers.
Several additional TAs were reached that strengthen our voice, protect your future, and expand opportunity:
- Increasing BHMT by 40% — expanding career development, training, and tuition opportunities for frontline workers
- Funding for UNITE HERE Local 5 Training Fund (Hawai’i) — which will allow the Union to train prospective KP workers in Hawai’i
- Improved Pension benefits for HNHP members — reinforcing retirement security for healthcare professionals
Additionally, the SLC TA negotiations eliminated a very onerous proposal by KP that sought Union agreement that certain regional economic disparities should be exploited as future KP growth occurs.
Several Alliance unions still have open local bargaining issues, and progress has been slow. Although USW Local 7600 has secured a Local TA, we stand firmly with our Alliance Unions fighting to resolve reasonable and necessary local demands.
There are still major economic issues to resolve — affecting all 62,000 Alliance Union members. We will continue pushing forward, knowing that with your support, we’ll win a contract with wage increases, protections, and benefits we can be proud of.
We offered KP bargaining dates for December and are waiting to hear back. Now is the time to show your solidarity:
- Wear your union gear every day.
- Share your pride.
- Stand united.
