KAISER PERMANENTE: NEGOTIATING FOR LOWER NURSES’ WAGES

      The nation's largest HMO, Kaiser Permanente, "wants its
 unionized nurses in Northern California to accept lower wages and
 fewer benefits" in labor contract negotiations that began
 Wednesday, according to the SACRAMENTO BEE.  The California
 Nurses Association (CNA), which represents about 2,000 Kaiser
 nurses in the negotiations, "said the fight is really over how
 patients are cared for as the giant health care provider reduces
 costs and contemplates hospital closings."  Kaiser spokesperson
 Kathleen McKenna said, "Our benefit costs are 30 percent higher
 than our competitors across the board for senior managers and
 nurses.  We need to look for ways we can get our wages and
 benefits in line with market rates."  However, labor
 representative Morton Newman said, "Kaiser is interested in
 lowering costs and we want safe, effective, therapeutic health
 care.  We're talking past each other at the (bargaining) table." 
 The next round of negotiations is scheduled for October 16.
      ON THE TABLE:  BEE notes that "so far, Kaiser isn't saying
 what it will propose in terms of reduced wages.  But the company
 has put forth a new 'flex benefits' package that would be tied to
 most employees' salaries and hours worked."  Under that proposal,
 which resembles a similar plan agreed to by Kaiser managers and
 salaried workers, employees could earn credits which could be
 used to "buy" health, dental and life insurance.  The nurses'
 union has yet to demand any wage increases and is instead
 "pushing for better working conditions," according to the BEE. 
 The nurses are asking Kaiser to stop decreasing the number of
 nurses assigned to care for patients, Newman said.  Last year,
 nurses were responsible for between four and five patients per
 day, but this year the patient load jumped to between six and 12
 patients per day.  CNA spokesperson Chuck Idelson said, "Kaiser
 is one of the most wealthy health care institutions in the U.S. 
 It does not need to be demanding additional sacrifices from their
 nurses" (Ferraro, 9/19).