04/24/08 - General Membership Meeting

Additionally, among the topics discussed was the 3% or higher wage increased which was negotiated during the 2005 Kaiser/Kaiser Coalition of Unions Agreement and which was to be realized by San Diego, Kaiser Employees represented by OPEIU, Local 30 in October of this year. According to one source, Kaiser is baulking at whether the organization is committed to providing even the minimum 3% increase (much less being obligated to negotiate over a potentially higher percentage). It is quite concerning that an organization which has received plenty of media coverage conveying the stong position Kaiser is in financially would try to convey a much different perspective to it's Employees rather than sharing to what we have all contributed. What is of further concern is the fact that there is a large wage disparity between Employees who work for Kaiser in the LA area and those Employees who work or Kaiser in the San Diego area (ranging from approximately $2-$5 per hour, depending on the job classification); San Diego Employees, performing the same or similar work as those in LA, deserve to have this wage gap closed. As our Union's current Administration prepares for bargaining in regards to this important issue, let's hope they feel the same way.

Fraternally,

Dustin