Kaiser Orange County Professional Association
Staff Representative – Tamara Yildiz, RN
Tamara@unac-ca.org
Hospital President, Anaheim – Cherie Sloan, RN
Email: cherie.KOCPA@gmail.com
Hospital President, Irvine – Janet Rossi, RN, CNOR
Email: janet.KOCPA@gmail.com
Clinic President – Terry McMurtrey, NP, MSN
Email: terry.KOCPA@gmail.com
Master Committee Chair – Laura Cortez-Irwin, RN
Email: Laura.KOCPA@gmail.com
Parliamentarian – Gerard Anthony Corros, RN
Email: parliamentarian.KOCPA@gmail.com
Executive Secretary – Ivy “Lynn” Alcarez-Reif, PHN
Email: Lynn.KOCPA@gmail.com
Delegate to Executive Council – Chad Najera, RN
Email: chad.KOCPA@gmail.com
Treasurer – Erick Jekums, RN
Email: erick.KOCPA@gmail.com
Contract Specialist – Karla Padova, PA
Email: KOCPACS@gmail.com
Ph: 909-455-8315
Contract Specialist – Geraldine Corros, RN
Email: KOCPACS2@gmail.com
Ph: 909-240-4942
Orange County (Kaiser) News
posted on February 16th, 2012
All UNAC/UHCP members are strongly encouraged to attend National Negotiations to see first-hand how our issues and concerns are addressed as we negotiate our new contract.
Register to Attend Bargaining:
1. Sign up on line at unacuhcp.org/socal2012signup or
2. Fill out the I’ll Be There registration card and turn it into your Affiliate Officers or UNAC/UHCP staff. Download the card here.
Questions and Answers:
Q: Will I get to be in the room… Read more
posted on February 15th, 2012
Governor Jerry Brown announced late Tuesday he signed Senate Bill 98, the legislation reconstituting the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The entire board will be reappointed under the new bill.
Read more
posted on February 10th, 2012
Last week ballots were counted in an election held by the UNAC/UHCP Executive Committee to elect our representatives to serve on the National Bargaining Committee. We are pleased to announce that the following leaders will be representing us:
Ken Deitz, RN, UNAC/UHCP President
Barbara Blake, RN, UNAC/UHCP State Secretary
Bill Rouse, UNAC/UHCP Executive Assistant to the Officers
Pam Brodersen, NP, Kaiser Downey Medical Office President, UNAC/UHCP
Cindy Klein, RN, Kaiser Riverside… Read more
posted on February 3rd, 2012
We have the responsibility in our negotiations with Kaiser this year to make sure that we secure what we have as we go forward into our future. Falling back is not an option. We all need to step up–be active, educated and informed. Unionized workers in our country have faced difficult negotiations in every industry. Our negotiations are likely to be no different.
Go to Kaiser Contract Campaign Website Read more
posted on January 10th, 2012
Together, let’s imagine our future. We have the responsibility in these negotiations to make sure that we secure what we have as we go forward into our future. Falling back is not an option. We all need to step up–be active, educated and informed. Unionized workers in our country have faced difficult negotiations in every industry. Our negotiations are likely to be no different.
Please complete the local bargaining survey online here.
As Kaiser… Read more
posted on November 29th, 2011
Bargaining with Kaiser begins March 6, 2012. The first step in winning a fair contract that guarantees what we fought so hard to achieve is to complete our National Bargaining Survey online
here.
Read more
posted on November 7th, 2011
In 2011 UNAC/UHCP continues its commitment to make sure members are well educated on the benefits, rights and guarantees we have won in our union contract. Check out the attached leaflets on a variety of issues so that you can TAKE CHARGE!
Contract Education – National Bargaining 2012
Contract Education – 24 Hour Clock
Contract Negotiations – How it all Works
Contract Education – Grievance and Arbitration Procedure
Contract Education – Vacation
Contract Education… Read more
posted on October 18th, 2011
UNAC/UHCP continues to celebrate Physician Assistant Week with a recent victory for Kaiser Orthopedic PAs in Orange County.
At issue was whether Kaiser should compensate these hard working professionals an hourly float differential when they were floating to numerous Medical Office Buildings. Twelve Orange County Orthopedic PAs will receive a check as one of the terms of the settlement agreement reached through mediation.
Beyond Orange County, the agreement ensures that all Southern California… Read more
posted on June 2nd, 2011
In the last year, UNAC/UHCP has emailed out critical information to members about contract negotiations, license notices, and health care benefits. Don’t be left out because we don’t have your email address. Send us your email address at publicaffairs@unac-ca.org along with your name and your affiliate.
posted on April 29th, 2011
Kaiser RNs are patient advocates in accordance with the California Nursing Practice Act.
Out of concern for the chronic and growing problem of verbal orders given in non-emergency situations, Kaiser RNs are circulating and signing a petition to Kaiser Permanente management calling for an immediate investigation and quick resolution of the problem.
Click here to sign the petition. Add your name to the hundreds of Kaiser RNs who have already signed.
Click here to download a leaflet to share… Read more
posted on April 18th, 2011
Members of the United Nurses Association/Union of Health Care Professionals Retirees Council Committee met in the UNAC/UHCP San Dimas office to plan for the future. Committee member Barbara Jordan, RN, said, “UNAC/UHCP does not end when you retire. It is a new beginning.”
Read more
posted on March 22nd, 2011
The Laurel Foundation, otherwise known as Camp Laurel, provides relief to families and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Daria Smith, staff representative at Kaiser Fontana, has given up many of her annual vacations to work on this project. She has watched children she cared for in camp grow up and become camp counselors themselves. Through Daria, UNAC/UHCP learned about Camp Laurel and began recruiting members to volunteer.
This year, UNAC/UHCP members Priscilla Simmons (Kaiser Ontario), Estela… Read more
posted on March 3rd, 2011
The KOCPA officers have been promoting UNAC/UHCP’s visibility by holding all-day hospital membership meetings. The meetings are an opportunity for members to find out current information and to ask questions. Through these meetings, KOCPA members have begun to connect affiliate officers’ faces to the union. We have started to promote visibility in the 18 clinics by coordinating our monthly officer meetings, with an open meet and greet session for clinic members at the same time. … Read more
posted on March 3rd, 2011
Kay Harris, NP retired from Kaiser on January 10, 2011 after a long career in nursing. She has worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse, a Lamaze instructor, a breast feeding advocate, an OB GYN Nurse Practitioner, and as a union leader.
Kay was one of the original organizers who worked to bring Kaiser Orange County nurses into UNAC/UHCP. She served as the first KOCPA Clinic President from 2000-2010. She was a strong voice for… Read more
posted on September 8th, 2010
Troy Seagondollar, RN-BC, MSN, currently serves as the UNAC/UHCP Registered Nurse technology liaison, a position that works jointly with Kaiser and UNAC/UHCP to address issues that arise regarding Kaiser’s electronic medical records system, KP HealthConnect.
This Labor-Management Partnership assignment allows Troy to: give nurses a voice in the enhancements and changes made to KP HealthConnect build a support system for nurses at the medical centers; and engage more RNs at the medical centers.
Troy has… Read more
posted on July 8th, 2010
“In a tough economy, this Agreement is remarkable – it sets a national standard for wage increases and maintenance of all benefits.”
- Kathy J. Sackman, RN
UNAC/UHCP President
A new two-year National Agreement was reached between the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions (CKPU) and Kaiser Permanente on May 28 and was approved by the CKPU Delegates Conference on June 12. UNAC/UHCP held member informational meetings the week of June 14… Read more
posted on July 7th, 2010
Each year the Camp Laurel Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, provides a summer and winter camp to children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in Bear Valley. Based in Pasadena, the organization is always looking for medical volunteers to meet the medical care needs of the campers. This year, UNAC/UHCP reached out to its members in order to find some much needed volunteers for this year’s summer camp program.
Read more
posted on July 7th, 2010
The votes are in and the results are clear: the Kaiser National Agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by UNAC members. Ballots were mailed the week of June 28, and voting was complete the week of July 6.
The new Agreement provides for 3.5% across-the-board wage increases on October 1 of 2010 and 2011 for UNAC/UHCP-represented RNs, NPs and PAs; an improved wage grid for ODs effective October 1, 2010 and a 3% ATB on October 1,… Read more
posted on May 8th, 2010
Negotiations for a new national agreement started in early April between Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, including UNAC/UHCP. Three multi-day sessions have been held, and a fourth session is scheduled in late May.
Negotiations are being conducted by a 111-member Common Issues Committee (CIC). The CIC is composed of 68 union representatives and 43 KP management participants. UNAC/UHCP is represented on the CIC by Kathy Sackman, RN, UNAC/UHCP President; Ken Deitz,… Read more
posted on May 7th, 2010
Negotiations for a new national agreement started in early April between Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, including UNAC/UHCP. Three multi-day sessions have been held, and a fourth session is scheduled in late May.
Negotiations are being conducted by a 111-member Common Issues Committee (CIC). The CIC is composed of 68 union representatives and 43 KP management participants. UNAC/UHCP is represented on the CIC by Kathy Sackman, RN, UNAC/UHCP President; Ken Deitz,… Read more
posted on March 8th, 2010
KP national bargaining is set to begin April 6th and is expected to continue through late May or early June. As with the previous two contracts, local bargaining will begin after the completion of national talks. National bargaining will be different this year, with a single committee of senior leadership and rank and file employees undertaking the work. Using a proportionality formula, UNAC/UHCP has been allocated six committee positions.
Representing us will be: Kathy J.… Read more
posted on March 8th, 2010
UNAC/UHCP – The 2010 Advanced Labor-Management class schedule has been set. The two-day class will be held March 17-18, June 16-17, September 15-16 and November 17-18 at the UNAC/UHCP San Dimas office. To register, contact the UNAC/UHCP office.
Kaiser– As a result of KP reaching its 2009 financial performance target, Kaiser union members with at least a year of employment received a 1% employer-paid contribution to their retirement savings plan account in early March.… Read more
posted on January 8th, 2010
Your union dues support UNAC/UHCP’s efforts to strengthen the voices of health care professionals. Dues, established by the UNAC/UHCP Constitution, are based on the wage rates at each affiliate. As wage rates increase, dues go up proportionally.
For 2010, dues for full-time and part-time RNs, NPs, and PAs at Kaiser Permanente will be $47.74 per pay period, effective the pay period ending January 2, 2010. For Per Diems in these job categories, dues will be… Read more
posted on January 8th, 2010
FVPA – Fountain Valley Professional Association contract negotiations began in mid-December, with the FVPA negotiating team exchanging a number of proposals with hospital management. Negotiations will continue throughout January, with the intent of completing before the current contract’s February 1, 2010 expiration.
UNAC/UHCP – Staff Representative Suzanne Delaney, RN, has been selected by AFSCME to attend the Harvard Trade Union Program at Harvard University early in 2010. The six-week intensive program, funded by the Jerry… Read more
posted on November 8th, 2009
UNAC/UHCP Nurses educate the American public about health care reform legislation
PHOTO AND CAPTION: UNAC/UHCP nurses joined in AFSCME’s national campaign to make house calls to the American public and educate them about the health care reform legislation being considered in Congress.
In early October, several UNAC/UHCP Registered Nurses traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Little Rock, Arkansas and Fargo, North Dakota to make door-to-door “house calls” in an effort to educate residents about health care… Read more
posted on February 8th, 2009
The day before the L.A. march, UNAC/UHCP activist Asela Espiritu, an RN at Kaiser Orange County, travelled to Washington, D.C., to speak out at the AFL-CIO’s rally for the Employee Free Choice Act.
Espiritu joined UNAC/UHCP through a majority sign-up process, thanks to the landmark Labor Management Partnership between Kaiser and its unions. She told ralliers that all working people should have the same opportunity she’s had, free of coercion and intimidation and able… Read more
posted on October 13th, 2008
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions (of which UNAC/UHCP is a part) and the Kaiser Permanente Partnership Group (the senior leadership team of health plan and physician executives) have approved the 2008 reopener of the 2005 National Agreement.
The union vote was overwhelming in favor of the agreement, passing it by a 96 percent margin. As part of the 2005 National Agreement, the reopener focused on across-the-board wage increases and retiree medical benefits for Coalition-represented… Read more
posted on September 15th, 2008
UNAC/UHCP members are making terrific strides in contract negotiations. The bargaining team from the St. Francis Registered Nurses Association won a strong new contract that includes across-the-board wage increases, new resources to help nurses further upgrade their skills and education, and the creation of a new category rewarding nurses who earn a master’s degree. SFRNA members ratified the three-year agreement on September 9.
Meanwhile, negotiators from the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions and Kaiser reached… Read more
posted on September 15th, 2008
UNAC/UHCP members are making terrific strides in contract negotiations. The bargaining team from the St. Francis Registered Nurses Association won a strong new contract that includes across-the-board wage increases, new resources to help nurses further upgrade their skills and education, and the creation of a new category rewarding nurses who earn a master’s degree. SFRNA members ratified the three-year agreement on September 9.
Meanwhile, negotiators from the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions and Kaiser reached… Read more
