Remember the leaflets
from AFSCME/UNAC that describe Kaiser Permanente’s plans to slash workers’
benefits during contract negotiations? Well, some workers hoped the leaflets might
force SEIU and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions to utter at
least a few words of half-hearted criticism against Kaiser.
Nope.
In fact, Tasty has learned that Dave Regan and John August
are spending millions of dollars of workers’ dues money on a so-called “Delegates
Conference” that begins March 23rd. The giant junket is designed to co-opt the Coalition
delegates who'll vote on a new national contract when negotiations are
completed in May.
According to this website,
Regan and August are sending more than 600 union delegates and staffers to a
three-day, all-expenses-paid extravaganza at “the ultra-stylish Renaissance
Hollywood Hotel and Spa… the premier luxury property in the movie-making
capital of the world.”
Here’s a list
of the attendees, including Regan, Stan Lyles and even Tiffany
“I’m gonna kill you” Ford. Altogether, 170 staff and members from SEIU-UHW will be poolside at the Hollywood Renaissance.
The hotel features a restaurant, bar, champagne brunch, live
music, rooftop swimming pool and health spa that offers “celebrity-inspired
pampering” including “Enzymatic
Body Peels,” “Micro Current Eye Lift,” “Sunless Tanning” and “Couples
Massages.”
For those who wanna look nice for SEIU’s next Wellness Walk,
there’s even a special “Firming Wrap” with “Shea Butter, Rice Bran Oil and
extracts of Juniper Berry, Walnut and Bitter Orange.”
What about the program/content for this “Delegates
Conference?” After all, it’s taking place right in the middle of Kaiser
negotiations. Will SEIU-UHW and the Coalition actually talk about Kaiser’s proposed
benefits cuts?
Nope.
According to the website,
the conference – entitled “You Gotta Move” – focuses on (you guessed
it) “Wellness Programs!”
The aim of this conference is to inform, inspire and support leadership development, particularly in improving our health and the health of our communities… We will explore our options in reducing our health risks and those of our community during plenary sessions, workshops and in our Union Steering Committee track.
Delegates can choose from an array of riveting workshops
like “Leading in Partnership,” “Tracking Success” (presented by two Kaiser
officials), “Effective Sponsorship,” “Small Is Big” (how to incorporate physical
exercise into your life -- led by a physical fitness trainer), “Laughaceuticals”
(“ideas for regularly incorporating laughter into your day”), “Turn on the
Jazz,” “Mentoring Our Future,” “Tell Me a Story” and “Value Stream Mapping.”
