May 2019 Pulse
Welcome to the May 2019 edition of our union’s e-newsletter. In recent weeks, NUHW members have picketed for fair wages, fought illegal takeaways, pressured Kaiser to fix its mental health care system, made national news protesting a Joe Biden fundraiser at the home of a Kaiser board member and settled multiple contracts. Check out the stories below, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, too.
NUHW members win good raises at Alameda County detention facilities and Marin General Hospital.
Caregivers at Santa Rita Jail negotiated a four-year contract through April 30, 2023 with across-the-board 3.75 percent annual raises. A residual agreement for recently organized workers at Marin General includes 13.5 percent across-the-board wage increases over the next four years Click here to read the story.
Kaiser members authorize open-ended strike
More than 80 percent of Kaiser psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists and psychiatric nurses authorized an open-ended strike which is scheduled to begin June 11. Last week, Berkeley joined San Francisco in passing a resolution supporting them and Kaiser Healthcare Professionals. Click here to read the story.
Janus of Santa Cruz workers and community allies picket for fair wages
Over 100 Janus of Santa Cruz workers and community supporters attended an informational picket calling on Janus management to pay fair wages and put an end to rampant worker turnover that is comprising Santa Cruz’s ability to address its addiction crisis. Click here to read the story.
San Francisco Supervisor urges Kaiser to fix its mental health services
San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen urged Kaiser Permanente to address chronic understaffing issues in a San Francisco Examiner op-ed. Click here to read the commentary.
USC Norris workers demand restoration of paid holidays
In February, the University of Southern California illegally eliminated nine paid holidays for workers at Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Workers at Norris, and their colleagues at Keck Hospital of USC joined forces on a picket demanding that the university restore paid holidays. Click here to read the story.
NUHW members protest outside Biden fundraiser hosted by Kaiser board member
Kaiser mental health clinicians protested a May 8 fundraiser for Joe Biden at the Los Angeles home of Cynthia Telles, the only mental health professional on Kaiser’s board of directors. Click here to read the story.
