Inspired by the United States Constitution, we take a comic look at the founding of the Labor Management Partnership.
In 1997, forward-looking leaders of Kaiser Permanente and 26 unions took a chance on a different way of working--in partnership. After 20 years, our Labor Management Partnership has proved to be a game-changer. See how we are marking 20 years of partnership.
Forty percent of U.S. marriages end in divorce after an average of eight years. Most business partnerships fail to meet expectations. And most campaigns end when they achieve their goals or the world moves on.
But the Labor Management Partnership between Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions has beaten the odds: October 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the partnership’s founding, making it by far the largest, longest-running and most sweeping such partnership in the country.
We’ve accomplished a lot together. And in a world of change, sustaining a healthy long-term relationship is an achievement in itself. A key to our success has been the willingess to honestly reflect on our successes, failures, and opportunities to improve.
By working in partnership, says Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard Tyson, “We have tapped into the potential of smart people all over the organization coming here every single day trying to figure out, ‘How do I improve quality, how do I improve service, how do I improve affordability?’ That’s an incredible competitive advantage for the organization.”
This fall Kaiser Permanente and the union coalition will be celebrating those achievements with special events and employee outreach. It won’t be all cake and balloons, however. LMP regional councils, unit-based team sponsors and co-leads, and others will host reflection sessions where workers, managers and physicians can share their experiences, pain points and suggestions for the future of partnership. Participants will consider three questions:
Partnership is not easy, and the parties don’t always agree on things. So what’s kept it going?
“It’s nice if we can all get along,” says Tyson. “But most important, we’re here to get results.” Here are some of the results achieved in partnership:
All of the above have garnered attention from business, union and academic leaders over the years.
“The Labor Management Partnership is a shining example of how you bring labor and management together to produce results,” said Liz Shuler, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO. “What I love about this model is the notion that, no matter where you work in the system, you have a place at the table and your voice is heard.”
Working in partnership also holds lessons that apply outside of work—including lessons that might have saved some of those failed marriages.
“If you are going to be a good partner and have a successful relationship, with a partner, kids, friends,” says a facilitator from 2015 national bargaining, “you have to have your partner’s needs in mind as well as your own.”
To learn more about LMP anniversary activities, visit the 20th Anniversary How-to Guide.
The story behind the creation of our Labor Management Partnership, formed in 1997 after decades of strikes and discontent between Kaiser Permanente and its unions.
The story behind the creation of our Labor Management Partnership, which emerged in 1997 after years of strife between Kaiser Permanente and its unions. Leaders from Kaiser Permanente and some of the key Partnership unions, both past and present, share how they agreed to work collaboratively — a solution that ultimately improved care for members and provided job security for workers. Today, our partnership is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind.
How and why the Labor Management Partnership at Kaiser Permanente came to be.
How and why the Labor Management Partnership at Kaiser Permanente came to be.
Why Kaiser Permanente's Labor Management Partnership is a model for how labor and management can work together to produce results.
Our Labor Management Partnership—the largest and longest-running partnership of its kind. It is "a shining example—and the best example—of how you bring labor and management together to produce results," says Liz Shuler, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO.
Here's why.
Use this word search to unlock key words and phrases that relate to key elements of working in partnership.
Kaiser Permanente's Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson on why all employees should speak up.
Creating a better workplace turns cynics into champions of unit-based teams. UBTs help workers, managers and physicians better serve Kaiser Permanente members and patients. Yet even though everyone in the unit belongs to the team, too many people don’t realize they do. Engaging with your team can change lives—including your own. Read on and see how.
Plus: "Meet Your National Agreement," puzzles and games and great comics that will help everyone realize they are part of your UBT.
Format:
PPT
Size:
7 slides
Intended audience:
Unit-based team consultants, union partnership representatives, UBT sponsors and co-leads.
Best used:
To learn about the new features of the revamped LMP website.
This presentation, originally shown at a webinar in November 2016, includes handy tips and a "cheat sheet" to help orient users to the new features of the revamped LMP website.