California Gov. Jerry Brown congratulates LMP on its success and praises it for making the Golden State a better place to live and raise our families.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions (and answers!) viewers may have when they preview the new LMP website, including highlights of new features and links to old favorites.
Wouldn't it be great if every organization and every union had a labor management partnership like ours? It could happen. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services hosted Partnership Day to explore the possibilities.
Henrietta, the regular columnist in the LMP's quarterly magazine Hank, explains the advantages of the journal's new design.
You get to a certain age, and it’s time for a makeover. Surely you understand.
We heard you whispering. In fact, it inspired us to conduct a statistically valid survey to make sure what we’d overheard was a true reflection of what you thought. Some of it was a pleasant surprise—such praise! But you were blunt, too: Awkward size. Overly long articles. Not enough variety. And so on.
So, here’s our equivalent of slimming down and building some muscle. (Amazing what walking a half-hour a day will do!) With our new ’do, you’ll find:
While we’re on the subject of our virtues: Our paper is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, ensuring the use of responsible forest management methods that address social, economic and environmental issues.
Why does that matter? Well—working in partnership addresses profound social and economic issues, too. We hope you like our makeover because we want to serve you—the frontline workers, managers and physicians of Kaiser Permanente—well. Because what was achieved this spring in National Bargaining, the subject of this issue’s cover story, makes it clear what an extraordinary journey we are on together.
A summary of the 2010 National Agreement, including the economic highlights and new provisions in four key areas: performance improvement, the Labor Management Partnership, attendance and workforce development.