This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA.
In the past months, Kaiser administration has increasingly pushed to reduce staff, cut corners, automate tasks, and consolidate departments in an effort to increase profits. For cashier receptionists at Kaiser, this has recently meant having to rebid for their positions. While some people were able to retain their role due to seniority, many others have been reassigned to entirely different floors and departments.
According to Local 29, the rebid was actually a win over the looming threat of deployment that Kaiser had been pushing in recent months. It remains a matter of speculation whether Kaiser administration saw the rebid as a way to reduce positions and staff – especially by pushing for receptionists to not be assigned to specific departments, but instead serve as floats across various floors. But, according to the union, advocating for this rebid was a strategy to preserve the positions and demonstrate that every staff member in these roles is essential.
Although the rebidding officially takes effect on September 8, the process has already made one thing clear: Kaiser has little regard for the needs and voices of its workers. Unless we unite and make ourselves heard, both within and beyond our union, this hospital will continue to prioritize profit and so-called efficiency over our autonomy and well-being.
Click here to read the article printed in the 08-20-25 Healthcare Newsletter
