This morning was training and more training on our approach to negotiations. It is called Interest Based Negotiations. I confess I had to step out of the room several times because it all seemed like much ado about nothing. How much training does our bargaining team need to address our union concerns? They are pretty simple:
1) Keep benefits 2) raises 3) job security
It is Kaiser and its managers that seem to need the training. We have a National Agreement nicely bound in a little blue book that no manager seems to know much about or understand what to do with it.
We have a Labor Management Partnership, described in the blue book, that has been in place since 1997. After 13 years, how much more training does Kaiser management need to have in order to understand that on page 21 of the National Agreement it clearly states "engagement in Partnership is NOT OPTIONAL, but the way Kaiser Permanente does business."
It should not be hard to figure out that creating a real partnership among labor and management means supporting the workforce that helps make Kaiser successful. That means do not take away our stuff.
When elected by my union members I promised to present their needs and questions about this agreement and stand up for our goals.
I will live up to that promise. I hope Kaiser will live up to its promise to do business as a partner - a real partner.
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