Having cochaired the Labor-Management Partnership at Kaiser Permanente and led the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, John August has an insider's perspective on The Kaiser Permanente Labor-Management Partnership. Today, John August serves as the associate director of the Healthcare Transformation Project within Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. The project works with health care leaders to improve delivery systems for lower operational costs and better patient care.
Originating in 1997, the Labor-Management Partnership resolved several very serious threats to Kaiser Permanente (KP) and its unions. These threats could have diminished the financial success of KP, thereby, lowering the quality of life of its workers. Everything changed when leading union organizers approached KP with the idea of a partnership through which both the union and KP could collaboratively meet their goals. This partnership became one of the most successful in United States history.
The Labor-Management Partnership created a dialogue between workers, physicians, and managers and on a daily basis, allowing for organizational improvement. Some of the goals of the partnership are to improve care for KP members, develop cost-saving techniques, and maintain industry-leading working conditions and benefits for employees. Today, the Labor Management Partnership is present in seven states and Washington DC, and more than 18,000 physicians, 14,000 managers, and 100,000 union employees participate in the initiative.
Originating in 1997, the Labor-Management Partnership resolved several very serious threats to Kaiser Permanente (KP) and its unions. These threats could have diminished the financial success of KP, thereby, lowering the quality of life of its workers. Everything changed when leading union organizers approached KP with the idea of a partnership through which both the union and KP could collaboratively meet their goals. This partnership became one of the most successful in United States history.
The Labor-Management Partnership created a dialogue between workers, physicians, and managers and on a daily basis, allowing for organizational improvement. Some of the goals of the partnership are to improve care for KP members, develop cost-saving techniques, and maintain industry-leading working conditions and benefits for employees. Today, the Labor Management Partnership is present in seven states and Washington DC, and more than 18,000 physicians, 14,000 managers, and 100,000 union employees participate in the initiative.