Kaiser Permanente revealed the most recent offer it extended to the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions a few days after Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, or SEIU-UHW, said 98% of its members voted in favor of a strike against the company.
"We know that going on strike is very likely the only way we'll stop Kaiser’s unfair labor practices and win a contract that protects our jobs, wages, and benefits," SEIU-UHW said in its website.
In its most recent proposal to the coalition, Kaiser Permanente offered to extend annual pay increases to its employees, maintain the existing office visit copayment and continue local bargaining. The company also said it will create new-hire training positions for certain roles and is setting aside $40 million to a workforce development fund.
Early in August, Kaiser Permanente said SEIU-UHW chose to "use the threat of a strike as a bargaining tactic" even as most contracts do not expire until October. The company also refuted the union's claims that it is proposing pay cuts and changes to its employees' defined pension benefit.
