Thread by @OFNHP

We are announcing today that 3,300 workers at Kaiser Permanente in Oregon will be voting on whether or not to authorize a strike. The key issue is #SafeStaffing, and we are concerned that Kaiser's low offers at the table could accelerate the staffing crisis. *thread*

After months of bargaining, Kaiser is still putting forward proposals that will not support our members or our communities. They are offering 1%: far below what comparable positions make in the area, and so low that they won't attract new staff.

More importantly, they are pushing forward "two tiers," which would mean that new staff will get much lower wages and benefits. This would create a disaster for the staffing ratios, which are already a massive problem.

They said we were heroes during #COVID19, so why are they pushing low wages and disrespectful proposals? Why don't they put staff and patients before profits? This affects all of us, both patients and staff and our entire public health system.

Almost half Kaiser RNs here are considering leaving the industry entirely because of what Kaiser has been doing. Our other units, from techs to professionals to dental workers to lab workers, are all pretty close. More than half of our members say they are considering leaving KP.

This is why we will be staging a strike authorization vote after our contracts expire on September 30th. On a test vote, a full 94% of strike eligible KP workers said they would join a strike. koin.com/local/kaiser-p…

We are joined by 52,000 other Kaiser workers across 8 states united with the @AHCunions. Our colleagues at @unacuhcp have also announced strike authorization votes, and others are en route. This is the biggest union story of the year, one of the biggest of the decade.

We are going to be rallying on Sept 28th at 6pm at 500 NE Multnomah St in Portland with hundreds, and supporters: @OregonNurses, @OregonSOS, @OregonAFLCIO, @PortlandDSA and many others. Please come out and show your support for #FrontlineHealthcareWorkers and our patients!