Kaiser Permanente averted a strike in October with an 11th-hour offer that union operating engineers approved the day before they were planning to walk off the job.
Kaiser and workers represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701 had made little progress toward a tentative agreement over more than a dozen bargaining sessions. Local 701 represents stationary engineers at Kaiser who maintain medical equipment and handle mechanical and electrical support to keep Kaiser facilities running in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
“All that Kaiser was doing was slow walking my bargaining team,” IUOE Local 701 business manager James Anderson told the Labor Press.
Kaiser’s first offer, in August, was rejected by more than 90% of the unit. In early October, more than 80% of members rejected a second offer and authorized a strike. After the union gave Kaiser a 10-day notice that they planned to strike — required under federal law for workers in healthcare facilities — Kaiser made a third offer that workers voted on. On Oct. 17, the day before the strike would have started, 59% of members voted to accept Kaiser’s third proposal.
The contract gives engineers and biomedical engineers 10% raises. The other dozen workers in the unit are getting 5% raises and a one-time 2% bonus. All of the 86 unit members will also receive a ratification bonus. Workers in the engineer group will see around a $4 per hour raise, bringing them up to $45.60 per hour.
The new contract also included improvements to retirement health benefits and “a decent win” on pension plans, Local 701 stationary representative Peter Ullrey said.
Ullrey said he was floored by how long negotiations took, with more than 15 bargaining sessions.
Union leaders brought the three proposals to members not as tentative agreements, which would mean the union negotiated the agreements and recommended members vote yes, but as Kaiser’s best and final offer at that point.
Anderson said he considered the contract a success, but believed members ultimately voted yes because they were intimidated after Kaiser emailed them at their personal emails to encourage “yes” votes. The union has filed Unfair Labor Practice complaints in response, Anderson said.
“It’s a good contract. The bargaining team fought hard,” Anderson said, but “I think they would have voted it down if the company didn’t play those games.”
