KP Pharmacy Members Voted YES! ULP Strike Authorization Overwhelmingly Passes!
Strike vote a big wake up call to Kaiser
The members have spoken loud and clear.
This week, 2,200 Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy members across Southern California came together and overwhelmingly voted YES to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against Kaiser for breaking the law.
This vote sends a strong message to Kaiser: We’ve had enough of their union-busting tactics that undermine workers and silence our voices. And if they thought Kaiser members could be scared away from standing up for our rights, they just found out that they are very wrong.
What does this mean?
This vote prepares Kaiser Pharmacy members to take action after a ten-day notice is given to the company. It does not mean we are on an Unfair Labor Practice strike right now. If you walk off the job before the union declares a strike, you can be disciplined and/or fired. REMEMBER: your local is the best source of information, and you’ll hear ANY news from us first.
Meanwhile, Alliance unions OFNHP, UNAC/UHCP, USW Local 7600, UNITE HERE Local 5, and HNHP went on strike on Tuesday and will remain on strike in San Diego until Saturday, October 18 at 2:00 PM. Reach out to your local union for information on how to support an Alliance strike line near you before/after your shift, or on your lunch break.
CLS members: since your contract doesn’t expire until next year, you can’t strike at this time, but you can support Alliance siblings as well as your UFCW siblings should they be forced to strike. This misalignment in expiration dates is one of the things we are trying to fix in these negotiations.
What’s next?
An Unfair Labor Practice strike is always a last resort, and we will continue to push Kaiser to do the right thing and come back to the table to bargain in good faith. We are hopeful that Kaiser will get its act together after witnessing the 46,000 Alliance workers on strike this week and seeing that UFCW is ready to join a potential second wave of a strike. With this strike vote, we’re now prepared to join forces with our Alliance siblings if Kaiser continues to commit unfair labor practices that undermine our rights. Remember, you will always be the first to know when we take action.
The pause in LMP Partnership continues. Until further notice, UFCW will suspend participation in LMP councils, committees, and initiatives, while continuing all contractual meetings and grievance processes.
If you have any questions about what’s happening at the table, the ULP strike authorization, or anything else, reach out to your Union Representative.