Holding Kaiser accountable

Kaiser continues to make higher profits than ever before, even while cutting workers’ benefits and skimping on patients’ needed services. And they couldn’t do it without the help of their preferred union, SEIU-UHW.

Kaiser’s 2nd quarter financial report, released this week, shows that the company made $1.3 billion in profits in the first six months of this year. At the same time, with SEIU-UHW’s agreement, Kaiser cut SEIU members’ retiree health benefits, imposed a Partnership Tax on tens of thousands of workers giving millions back to Kaiser, and refused to close the wage gap between Northern and Southern California, all while denying patients the mental health care they need.

What’s worse, Kaiser’s not alone.

California’s largest hospital chains are raking in billions of dollars in profits that are only increased by their “not for profit” status.

SEIU-UHW has decided to team up with these hospital chains by helping them cut staffing ratios that protect our patients, and by leading the Coalition of Kaiser Unions to accept a new contract that’s chock full of cuts.

So last week, NUHW and the CNA/NNU announced a new alliance of 22,000 Kaiser workers united to fight for our members and our patients, NOT for Kaiser’s profits.

On Wednesday, we joined forces at the State Capitol in Sacramento to tell state legislators that we are in favor of legislation to hold Kaiser and other so-called “not for profit” healthcare corporations accountable to clear standards.

With Kaiser making billions in profits, workers in the CNA and NUHW see no need for healthcare workers to give millions of dollars back to management while they try to cut our benefits and short-change our patients. That’s just one of the differences between us and SEIU.

We’re holding Kaiser accountable.

Sincerely,