Hal
Ruddick -- the new
Executive Director of the Coalition
of Kaiser Permanente Unions -- is apparently bringing a “retro” approach to the
Partnership.
Like… way retro!
Check out a recent announcement given to Kaiser’s workers in
California. (A full copy is below.)
It looks like Ruddick and Kaiser simply borrowed the following graphic image and ideological message from a 1950s
corporate propaganda campaign.
Incredibly pathetic... and super condescending, right?
(In case you’re wondering, the 1950s-looking Boss who’s pictured
next to “Happy Business” is Robert Pearl,
the CEO of The Permanente Medical Group. He earns beaucoup bucks. That's why he's smiling.)
So what’s the purpose of the leaflet?
Kaiser, SEIU-UHW and the Partnership unions are pushing
workers to attend 1 ½ hour presentations where Kaiser’s executives plan to
discuss workers' “role in ensuring Kaiser’s continued success.” During the
presentations, Kaiser’s fatcat execs deliver a gloom-and-doom message aimed at
preparing workers to swallow massive benefit cuts accepted by SEIU-UHW and the Partnership
unions.
The timing of this propaganda offensive is quite comical. Just two weeks ago, Kaiser announced
third-quarter profits of more than a half billion dollars!
In fact, Kaiser has pocketed $2.2 billion in profits during
the first nine months of 2013, according to its
recent press release. And since 2009, Kaiser piled more than $10.9
billion of profits into its bank accounts!
Hmm… sounds like a perfect time for Kaiser’s workers to
make painful sacrifices so that Robert Pearl, Bernard Tyson and the rest of Kaiser’s Bosses can keep on grinnin'
from ear to ear!
