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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2021)
NOVEMBER 19, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7 Kaiser Permanente avoids strike Unions, a coalition of labor unions rep- resenting 52,000 Kaiser workers. "This agreement will mean patients will continue to receive the best care, and Alliance members will have the best jobs,” said Hal Ruddick, Executive Director, Alliance of Health Care Unions. “This contract protects our patients, provides safe staffi ng, and guarantees fair wages and benefi ts for every Alliance member.” Both local and national union work- ers will still need to vote on the contract before it is fi nalized. That vote, accord- ing to OFNHP’s statement, will begin after information sessions are held to allow every member to know what is in the new agreement. NEWS TIPS? FILE PHOTO, Keizertimes By JOEY CAPPELLETTI Of the Keizertimes Less than 48 hours before 35,000 Kaiser Permanente workers were set to strike, union leaders and Kaiser were able to reach a tentative agreement Saturday morning, Nov. 13. The strike, which was set to begin at 6 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 15, would have included 3,400 Kaiser employees in Oregon and southwest Washington. The four Kaiser facilities in the Salem and Keizer area would have most likely been impacted, with possible impacts to the Kaiser-affi liated Salem Hospital as well. “The pressure our members, includ- ing leaders and community, put on Kaiser and the threat of a strike worked and moved Kaiser leadership to do the right thing and settle a proposal that will improve care for the entire commu- nity,” said Jodi Barschow, president of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP), the union that represents the 3,400 workers. Last month, 96% of nearly 3,400 Kaiser workers in Oregon and south- west Washington voted to approve the strike. On Nov. 4, labor unions gave Kaiser Permanente the required 10-day notice that they planned on striking on Nov. 15. For months, union workers have pushed back against a “two-tier” wage system proposed by Kaiser execu- tives that would have paid future hires between 25 and 40 percent less than cur- rent employees. With new hires being paid substantially less, union leaders said the two-tier wage proposal would have only worsened the staffi ng crisis. According to a statement from OFNHP on Saturday, the four-year contract eliminates the “two-tier” wage proposal and includes wage increases, racial justice improvements and a staff - ing committee that will begin to tackle the staffi ng crisis at Kaiser. The deal was negotiated by the Alliance of Healthcare Pet P e e hap If it's happening in Keizer, or to someone from Keizer — WE WANT TO KNOW. kt@keizertimes.com When It Does, Call Us 503.884.9681 pens Worship DIRECTORY These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: 503-390-1051 YOUR CHURCH'S LISTING HERE Call Robin at 503.390.1051 www.KeizerChristian.org