How Bargaining 2008 works

As in 2005, the reopener bargaining process will be open, well structured and conducted in the shared interests of labor, management and physicians. But the scope, duration and impact of the negotiations will be far less significant than in 2005. Negotiations will be handled by a Common Issues Committee of health plan, medical group and union leaders. Per the National Agreement, CIC membership is carried over from 2005, with changes only for people who have left KP or their unions, or for bargaining units that have changed. The CIC will meet for just one round of bargaining, August 4 to 8. The agreement would be reviewed and ratified by Kaiser Permanente and the Union Coalition over the following four to five weeks.