Kaiser mental health strike: Sept. 6
We have accepted Kaiser’s request to return to the bargaining table starting on Thursday. In the first sign of movement, Kaiser is reinstating the offer it made the weekend before our strike began. This offer included wage increases that were acceptable to our bargaining committee, but did not include provisions to improve access to care or make workloads more sustainable. Kaiser, playing hardball, rescinded the offer before the strike, but is now reversing course.
As we prepare to go back into bargaining, it’s important to keep these things in mind:
-
Don’t expect a good offer or an agreement on Thursday. It’s common for an employer to test workers’ resolve during a strike with a subpar offer. Our Hawaii members bargained today for the first time since they went on strike and Kaiser barely moved from their previous position.
-
DO NOT GO BACK TO WORK! Resuming contract negotiations does not mean that the strike is ending. We went on strike to win a good contract, not to resume bargaining.
-
It’s more critical than ever to show resolve, not just by continuing to strike, but by showing up to the picket lines even during a heat wave. The more people we have striking on the picket lines, the more leverage our Bargaining Committee will have in negotiations.
We’ve come too far to let our guard down. Our hard work is starting to pay off, but we have to keep up the pressure and continue expanding our community support. If you haven’t yet joined your colleagues on the picket line, now would be the most impactful time to do so
How to join the Thursday bargaining session
On Wednesday we will send out details, including the time and the Zoom link. To demonstrate our strength, everyone is invited to sit in on bargaining when it resumes Thursday. The more people we have in bargaining the more pressure Kaiser will face to get serious about advancing a fair settlement that meets the needs of Kaiser patients and clinicians.
Financial hardship
Donations continue to come in following the $25,000 contribution made this weekend by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. We have compiled a Hardship Fund FAQ explaining how to access or contribute to the more than 20 hardship funds that have been set up by clinicians at different locations.
If you need financial support to sustain the strike, please fill out the form at nuhw.org/tempinfo. We can discuss a number of options, including possible temporary per diem work with behavioral health practices that have been in contact with us.
[slideshow_deploy id=’27671′]