A majority of Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals members have delivered a no-confidence vote in the leadership of Kaiser Permanente CEO Greg Adams.
In a Dec. 8 letter shared with the board of directors of Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, the union called for an independent investigation into Mr. Adams’ fitness to lead the health system. The union also urged the board to establish oversight measures to ensure the organization “swiftly settles fair national and local contracts,” according to a Dec. 8 news release.
The no-confidence vote follows a five-day strike in October involving tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees across multiple states. The system has been in negotiations since April with the Alliance of Health Care Unions on a new national agreement covering nearly 61,000 employees, including local negotiations with OFNHP, which represents about 4,600 employees, Kaiser said in a Dec. 9 statement shared with Becker’s.
Kaiser said it remains focused on reaching an agreement that supports employee well-being and allows the system to continue providing high-quality, affordable healthcare. “We are committed to working through all bargaining interests in the most productive forum possible — at the bargaining table,” the system said.
Kaiser said the union’s claims misrepresent its continued investment in its workforce and commitment to collaborative labor relations.
“These claims are bargaining tactics that distract from the real progress being made at the table,” the system said. “Our leadership at all levels are engaged, listening and working toward reaching agreements that move us forward together.”
Kaiser said it has proposed a compensation package with a 21.5% wage increase over four years, with a 16% bump in the first two years. With step increases and local adjustments, the average total increase would be about 30%, representing a nearly $2 billion investment in additional payroll costs. The union’s request for a 25% wage increase would add another $1 billion in wage costs over the agreement, making care less affordable for patients, according to the system.
“A no-confidence vote is one of the strongest statements that healthcare professionals can make about a CEO’s leadership, and Kaiser’s board should take it seriously,” OFNHP President Sarina Roher, RN, said in the release. “This is a clear signal from the frontlines that the status quo is failing. Staffing vacancy rates have soared, morale has plummeted, our workforce is exhausted and patient access is increasingly at risk.”
