Healthcare Workers to Protest Kaiser Plan to Lay Off, Outsource 794 Jobs in L.A. 

Caregivers Urge Company to Reverse Plans Since its Profits are Up 60%, Sitting on $32 Billion in Reserves 

 

 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Hundreds of healthcare workers are expected to protest Wednesday, Feb. 21 and Thursday, Feb. 22 at three Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Woodland Hills, Baldwin Park and Downey because the corporation plans to lay off or outsource 794 jobs in Los Angeles County that would undermine patient care. 

“Kaiser Permanente is more profitable than ever and the partnership between labor and management is a big reason for that,” said Francisco Paez, a Downey warehouse worker whose job is threatened. “The partnership wasn’t built on laying off workers, outsourcing jobs and wage cuts, which harm patient care and our communities.”  

Kaiser Permanente’s profits increased over 60 percent in the first three quarters of 2017, it has $32 billion in reserves and yet is seeking cuts that threaten patient care.  

The company plans to lay off 652 employees at their call centers in Woodland Hills, Baldwin Park and Hollywood and move those jobs to San Diego, Riverside and Fontana – where the positions would pay $2 per hour less. Call center workers answer the phones when Kaiser patients are trying to arrange medical appointments.  

Kaiser also plans to outsource 81 pharmacy warehouse jobs in North Hollywood and 61 in Downey and contract them to an outside company where workers would be paid less and have fewer benefits. The healthcare giant said it wants to reduce wage rates by 20 percent in California’s Central Valley and 10 percent in the Sacramento area.  

The three protests are part of a series of 32 being held across California by caregivers between Feb. 14 and March 15 at facilities owned by Kaiser Permanente. 

More than 55,000 Kaiser Permanente employees in California are members of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), including 1,829 at the Woodland Hills facility, 2,149 at Baldwin Park and 2,386 at Downey. Their contract with Kaiser Permanente expires Sept. 30, 2018. 

 

WHAT:           Hundreds of healthcare workers will protest at three Kaiser Permanente hospitals over the corporation’s plans to lay off or outsource 794 jobs in Los Angeles County. 

WHEN:          Wednesday, Feb. 21

WHERE:         11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

                     Kaiser Downey

                     9333 Imperial Hwy.

                     Downey, Calif. 90242

 

ALSO:          11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

                    Kaiser Baldwin Park

                  1011 Baldwin Park Blvd.

                  Baldwin Park, Calif. 91706

 

Thursday, Feb. 22

                   11 a.m. to 2 p.m.        

                  Kaiser Woodland Hills

                   5601 De Soto Ave.

                 Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367

 

VISUALS:      Colorful, hand-held signs. Workers marching and chanting in front of local hospitals.

 

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