Kaiser Strike: Day 4 and Rally Reminder

TODAY: Rally for Healthcare Justice in Waikiki

Rally for Healthcare JusticeOur Rally for healthcare justice is Thursday, February 5. We’ll start the march at 4:00p in front of The Modern Honolulu (Ala Moana Blvd. and Hobron Ln.) We’ll proceed past the Hilton, Hale Koa, and go down Kalakaua Ave. toward the Duke statue. We’ll begin our rally at the end of the march.

This rally is open to Local 5 members, members of other unions, and community supporters. Let’s show Kaiser that we will hold them accountable to treating workers, patients, and the communities right.

If you are parking at Aloha Stadium: Be there by 2:00p. Buses will take us to Waikiki.

If you are driving straight to Waikiki: Be at the sign-in table at Kalia Rd. by the Hilton Hawaiian Village by 3:45p.

Kaiser Strike: Day 4

Kaiser is saying that we are “purposely blocking patients” from entering. We all know this isn’t true. Kaiser knows the patients are on our side. They are trying to draw attention away from the fact that they’re the ones hurting patient care.

We continued to greet patients with aloha, welcoming them in. Many patients positively commented on how kind and organized we are.

Workers went to the State Capitol to talk to legislators. Kaiser is the largest HMO in the state. The state needs to hold Kaiser accountable to setting a good standard for healthcare in Hawai‘i. Many legislators fully support us and our strike.

Let’s finish strong. Let’s turn out big on Friday.

View PDF version of the bulletin here.

Visit our Facebook page to view more photos.

Busy day on the picket lines and at the State Capitol

Sen. Maile Shimabukuro supports us!

Sen. Maile Shimabukuro supports us!

Kaiser Hilo

Kaiser Hilo

Kaiser Honolulu

Kaiser Honolulu

Kaiser Kona

Kaiser Kona

Kaiser Koolau

Kaiser Koolau

Kaiser Moanalua

Kaiser Moanalua

Kaiser Strike: Day 3

Workers welcome patients to Moanalua and pass out leaflets

Workers welcome patients to Moanalua and pass out leaflets

We had another strong day on the picket lines and huge support from our patients & the community.

We continued to leaflet patients and welcome them. It’s important that we encourage patients to come in, especially in the case of an emergency.

Many community supporters joined us on the picket lines, including hotel workers, members of other unions, and a graduate student who wants the right to unionize at the University of Hawai‘i.

It’s Day 3. We’re halfway through. Let’s keep fighting!

  • Instagram & Twitter users: Don’t forget to tag Kaiser: @kpthrive @kphawaii and use hashtags #KaiserStrike #carestories #1u
  • Want to receive these bulletins electronically? Text KAISER to 877877

View PDF version of bulletin here.

Visit our Facebook page to view more photos.

Picketing, leafleting, and good times on Oahu, Maui, & Big Island

Front page news!

Front page news!

Kaiser patient Bret supports workers

Kaiser patient Bret supports workers

Our littest leafleter

Our littest leafleter

Leafleting at Kaiser Hilo

Leafleting at Kaiser Hilo

More goodies sent to Honolulu from community supporters

More goodies sent to Honolulu from community supporters

Kaiser Honolulu

Kaiser Honolulu

Kaiser Waipio

Kaiser Waipio

Teamsters member visits Kaiser Waimea

Teamsters member visits Kaiser Waimea

Kaiser Kahuku

Kaiser Kahuku

Kaiser Strike: Day 2

Great turnout at Kaiser Hilo. Workers stayed 4 hours past their scheduled shifts to continue picketing.

Great turnout at Kaiser Hilo. Workers stayed 4 hours past their scheduled shifts to continue picketing.

Our strike started off with a bang! A strong majority of Kaiser Local 5 members turned out to picket lines all over Hawai‘i.

We’ve received overwhelming support from patients and community members. Patients gave us encouraging words as we passed out leaflets to them. Dozens of comments were left on Kaiser’s Facebook page in solidarity with us. Community allies donated food and water to the Honolulu and Hilo picket lines.

Let’s keep up the momentum. United we stand!

View the PDF version of today’s bulletin here.

Are you on Instagram or Twitter?

Let Kaiser & the community know why youʼre on strike.

  • Tag Kaiser: @kpthrive @kphawaii
  • Use hashtags: #KaiserStrike #carestories #1u

Kaiser workers stand up for patients across Hawai’i

View more photos on our Facebook page.

Kaiser Hilo

Kaiser Hilo

Supporters bring pastries & water to Kaiser Hilo picket line

Supporters bring pastries & water to Kaiser Hilo picket line

Kaiser Wailuku

Kaiser Wailuku

Leafleting to patients

Leafleting to patients

Kaiser worker Jonah Pascual speaks with Hawaii Public Radio

Kaiser worker Jonah Pascual speaks with Hawaii Public Radio

Kaiser Honolulu

Kaiser Honolulu

Kaiser Waipio

Kaiser Waipio

Kaiser Maui Lani

Kaiser Maui Lani

Kaiser Kona

Kaiser Kona

Kaiser Moanalua

Kaiser Moanalua

Kaiser Strike: Day 1

2015-02-01 21.28.00-1Before the strike, Kaiser workers volunteered to speak with the media and outreach to the community to let people know why we are striking: because Kaiser is failing workers, failing patients, and failing the community.

Urgent care clinic closures and mass layoffs overloaded our workers and hurt our patients. Kaiser is also trying to take away our guaranteed pensions. Our pensions are money spent here, taxes paid here, a better life here.

Help us continue to spread the word to the community. Post the messages below and your photos from the strike on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use the hashtag #KaiserStrike:

Getting the word out

Hawaii Public Radio’s “The Conversation”

Kaiser lab assistant Gerald Penaflor was on Hawaii Public Radio to talk about our upcoming strike for our patients and for our future generations. If you missed it, you can listen to it here: http://hpr2.org/post/kaiser-workers-strike-degrees-narrativity-tax-bills-pedestrian-safety

Kaiser Moanalua lab assistant Gerald Penaflor was on Hawaii Public Radio to inform the community about our strike. “Strikes are meant to give a red flag to the community: there’s a problem with this establishment. In this case, it’s Kaiser,” said Gerald.

 

 

Kaiser workers on Hawaii News Now

2015-01-26 07.40.22-1Gerald Penaflor and Shan Simpliciano (Kaiser Moanalua CNA) spoke to Howard Dicus on Hawaii News Now Sunrise. “We see a trend, unfortunately, in healthcare in Kaiser where the services are being cut in order to save money, yet they’ve been very profitable.” – Gerald. “United we stand, divided we fall!” – Shan.

 

Outreaching to the community

2015-01-27 19.41.34-1Kaiser Honolulu medical assistant Cindy Aban spoke at the Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Board meeting about why we’re striking to stand up for our patients. The Board Chair thanked us and said this is the first time someone spoke to them about an upcoming demonstration!

 

 

View a PDF version of today’s bulletin here.

Kaiser Local 5 members to move forward with strike

MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
February 1, 2015

Media Contact: Paola Rodelas, (808) 333-4782, prodelas@unitehere5.org

Kaiser Local 5 members to move forward with strike

WHAT: 6-day statewide Kaiser Permanente workers strike

WHERE: Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center (3288 Moanalua Road Honolulu, HI 96819)
Kaiser Permanente Honolulu Medical Office (1010 Pensacola Street Honolulu, HI 96814)
Kaiser Permanente Waipio Medical Office (94-1480 Moaniani Street Waipahu, HI 96797)
Street parking available only

WHEN: Picketing at Moanalua begins Monday, Feb. 2 at 12:01a until 8:00p. Picketing at Honolulu begins Monday, Feb. 2 at 7:00a until 3:00p. Picketing at Waipio begins Monday, Feb. 2 at 7:00a until 3:00p.

VISUALS: Hundreds of Kaiser Permanente workers wearing red Local 5 shirts marching, chanting, and passing out leaflets

Four one-day work stoppages have been organized since 2013.

Four one-day work stoppages have been organized since 2013.

Honolulu (February 1, 2015) – Local 5 members who work at Kaiser Permanente are moving forward with their plans to go on strike for six days, starting February 2.

On Oahu, Kaiser workers will be picketing for six days at Kaiser’s facilities in Moanalua, Honolulu, and Waipio. Picket lines will also be organized on Maui at Maui Lani and Wailuku, and on Big Island at Hilo and Kona.

Workers on strike are not discouraging patients from entering the facilities. In fact, they encourage patients to come the facilities for any services they may need, especially in the case of an emergency. Workers will be passing out leaflets to patients and community members to inform them about the decisions Kaiser has made that have negatively affected patient care, including closing Honolulu urgent care and laying off staff. Four one-day work stoppages have been organized since 2013

“When I first started working at Kaiser, we were trained to care for our patients like family. That’s especially important in my department, mother & babies. But with all of the cuts to staff, Kaiser is making it harder and harder to provide that kind of care to our patients,” says Shanelle Simpliciano, a certified nurses aid at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua.

“Kaiser has changed for the worse since I started working here 17 years ago,” says Momi Hai, a lead front desk employee at Kaiser Permanente Maui Lani, “We’ve struggled with our jobs getting subcontracted, or our jobs getting cut completely. It has a real impact on workers and patients. Meanwhile, Kaiser makes $11 million a day. Kaiser is thriving, but what about us?”

Local 5 represents around 1900 Kaiser Permanente workers statewide. The strike will end on Saturday, February 7 at 12:00 midnight.

Local 5 represents approximately 11,000 workers throughout Hawaii who work in the hospitality, health care and food service industries and is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, an international union that represents over 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.unitehere5.org.

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Kaiser Local 5 members to go on 6-day strike

Kaiser lab assistant Gerald Penaflor was on Hawaii Public Radio to talk about our upcoming strike for our patients and for our future generations. If you missed it, you can listen to it here: http://hpr2.org/post/kaiser-workers-strike-degrees-narrativity-tax-bills-pedestrian-safety

Kaiser lab assistant Gerald Penaflor was on Hawaii Public Radio to talk about our upcoming strike for our patients and for our future generations. If you missed it, you can listen to it here.

Last week, Kaiser Local 5 members voted yes by 88% to go on strike. We officially gave notice to Kaiser Permanente that we will be going on strike for 6 days from Monday, February 2, 12:01am through Saturday, February 7 12:00 midnight.

We have been negotiating a contract for 2 ½ years. Over the last few years, we organized four SWATA’s (Stop Work and Take Action) to protest the negative changes that Kaiser has been making, like urgent care clinic closures and mass layoffs. These changes hurt our patients and impact our ability to care for our patients.

We have been negotiating with Kaiser Permanente, who gave us their last, best and final offer in January 2014 despite continuing to meet with us until as late as October 2014:

  • Kaiser has proposed wage increases of 2% the first year, 1% the second year, and 1% for the third year. This is the lowest wage increase that Kaiser has proposed to any of its other unions, both here in Hawaii and on the mainland.
  • Kaiser also wants to eliminate guaranteed pensions for new employees. If Kaiser succeeds in eliminating pensions for new employees, what’s to stop Kaiser from going after the pensions of current employees next?
  • Kaiser has also refused to pay full retroactive pay. Instead, they want to give “eligible” employees a $600 bonus. Most employees would receive much more than $600 if they were paid full retro.

With $3.1 billion in profits in the last 9 months, Kaiser can afford to give us the contract we deserve. We deserve better. Our patients deserve better.

Kaiser has left us no choice but to strike. Let’s stand up for what’s right. Let’s stand up for our patients and the community.

Check your home mailboxes in the next few days. Members were mailed a letter and a FAQ. Note that there is a correction to the FAQ: We will be going on strike for 6 days from Monday, February 2, 12:01am through Saturday, February 7, 12:00 midnight.