Kaiser’s union employees to hold work stoppage

The union representing 1,900 Kaiser Permanente Hawaii workers called for a one-day work stoppage today to protest increased employee workloads and other effects from last month’s closure of the Honolulu Clinic Urgent Care Center.

Kaiser laid off 13 clerical and emergency tech employees when it closed the urgent-care center at 1010 Pensacola St. on March 16. The rest of the Honolulu Clinic remains open.

Unite Here Local 5 said the state’s largest health-maintenance organization has failed to deal with the impact on remaining workers and that patient care is suffering. The union issued a 10-day strike notice on March 24 and said about 100 workers would participate today in an early-morning rally and solicit support by asking patients at Kaiser clinics on Oahu and Maui to sign a petition protesting the cuts.

Kaiser spokeswoman Laura Lott said the Moanalua Medical Center and Clinic and the company’s 18 clinics statewide would continue to operate today despite the work stoppage.

"We’ve taken steps to ensure that our members and patients will continue to receive uninterrupted high-quality care because as always, our first priority is their safety and health," Lott said. "Kaiser Permanente is negotiating in good faith with Local 5 and we believe the best way to reach agreement on a new contract is to bargain at the table. We respect and value our talented and caring employees and look forward to reaching a new contract agreement."

The union and Kaiser have been unable to reach a new labor agreement since the Aug. 31 expiration of their contract.

Local 5 said the main sticking points in negotiations involve Kaiser wanting to take away workers’ pensions and increase employee workload. The HMO would not comment about contract negotiations.

"These cuts at the urgent care facility have ripple effects throughout the health care system that’s going to negatively affect patient care," said Local 5 spokes­man Cade Watanabe. "The crazy thing is as consumers of Kaiser they just got hikes in premiums. People are paying more for Kaiser and they’re going to get less and less."

In January, Kaiser increased its premiums 5.3 percent for 155,000 members at 5,200 companies.

Kaiser, which serves nearly 226,000 members, is investing $320 million over five years to expand facilities statewide. But the expansion comes at a time when the health care provider is trimming its workforce.

The HMO eliminated 46 registered nurse positions at some primary-care clinics, replacing them with licensed practical nurses and medical assistants who it says are more appropriately suited for clinic duties. Lott said all but three RNs accepted other positions within the organization.

Late last year, Kaiser offered contract buyouts to 280 nurses, and about 25 accepted. In October, the company cut 35 union and management positions in an effort to streamline operations.

The company also cut operating hours at the Moanalua Ambulatory Treatment Center to 10 hours, six days a week, from 12 hours, seven days a week.