UBT Consultants & UPRs

Creating a better workplace turns cynics into champions of unit-based teams. UBTs give workers represented by a union in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions a way to lead change. They help workers, managers and physicians better serve Kaiser Permanente members and patients. Yet too many people don’t know they are part of a UBT. Truth is, everyone in the unit is a UBT member. And, as you’ll see in this issue, engaging with your team can change lives—including your own. Read on and see how.

Big picture comes into focus

Kimberly Carolina, clinical assistant, OPEIU Local 2, Neurology (South Baltimore Medical Center, Mid-Atlantic States)

"When we first learned about working in partnership, I thought it would be difficult. I was a little skeptical and reluctant. It was hard to work with management because they’re actually your boss. I was part of a hiring team and felt uncomfortable speaking up to say why I thought certain candidates wouldn’t work.

Working as a team was very new to everyone. I wondered if there would be backlash or repercussions. Some employees didn’t feel secure about their jobs and didn’t feel like they even had a voice. One day, I realized they were the same as I was. I had a fear of speaking up and so did the managers. After I realized that, we were able to move forward. Employees, providers and everyone needed to have a voice. We needed to not only talk, but to make things happen. It’s been a lot of learning, a lot of great experience and growth.

When I first started out I didn’t see how you needed each person and each piece to make the company grow. The puzzle came together for me.

Now the communications piece is there. We work to be effective, efficient and see the broad picture. It’s amazing to see everyone come together with one common goal to fix things, such as patient wait times.

I enjoy it better now. I’m learning more. I like the results I have seen. Partnership is like you had a child two decades ago and they’ve grown up to be a successful person."

Take advantage of everything LMP Communications has to offer and more!

Hank

The flagship publication of the Labor Management Partnership, Hank (named in honor of Henry J.) brings forward the diverse perspectives of frontline workers, managers and physicians across Kaiser Permanente. It features:

• Stories about unit-based teams that have taken a collaborative approach to achieve measurable performance improvement.
• Stories about individuals who, by working in partnership, have undergone a personal shift that has changed their level of engagement at work.
• Examples of effective practices that a team or individual can apply.
• Tools that make working in partnership easier: Practical tips and techniques for improving performance and solving problems in a team environment.

Each quarterly issue also has a comic on a partnership theme, puzzles and games, a poster and more.

LMP Insider

Our twice-monthly e-bulletin links you to useful tips, tools, team-tested practices and videos on LMPartnership.org. Subscribe today! (Scroll to the bottom of this page and enter your email address in the box.)

Oldie but Goodie

A checklist from the Labor Management Partnership’s early days, with seven principles and 37 related behaviors describing what working in partnership looks like.