National Bargaining is the formal process where Kaiser Permanente (KP) and the Alliance of Health Care Unions (AHCU) come together to bargain the contract known as the Alliance-KP National Agreement — which covers over 60,000 health care workers across multiple union locals and regions.

This agreement addresses shared priorities such as:

• Wages and benefits
• Job security and staffing
• Quality care delivery
• Workplace culture and equity
• Partnership roles and expectations

National Bargaining uses Interest-Based Negotiations (IBN) — a collaborative approach where union and management teams work together to solve problems and build sustainable, long-term solutions.

Instead of focusing solely on demands or “winning” contract points, this process emphasizes:

• Mutual respect and shared goals
• Joint problem-solving through committees
• Inclusive participation with union observers and subject matter experts
• Long-term improvements for both patient care and the workforce

A CIC Member is a representative on the Common Issues Committee — the joint bargaining committee formed by the Alliance and KP. This group will meet for the first time during the National Bargaining Kickoff on May 6, 2025. CIC members are allocated based on local union membership numbers. Each local union designates its CIC members, who have consensus-decision making power at bargaining.

An Observer is a union-affiliated participant who attends National Bargaining sessions to listen, learn, and share information with their co-workers, as appropriate. Observers do not directly participate in negotiations but are critical to keeping members informed and engaged.

Please notify your local union and send an email to NationalBargaining@ahcunions.org.
If you’ve made a hotel reservation, you are responsible for contacting the hotel directly to cancel.

First, check with your local union to ensure the change is approved. Then, email NationalBargaining@ahcunions.org to update the registration and cc your local union leader to ensure the appropriate parties are on notice.

Yes, all bargaining participants — including CIC members, subgroup members, SME’s and observers — must sign an NDA to take part in the process.

This NDA:

• Allows access to confidential business information not typically disclosed during traditional bargaining.
• Does not prevent you from discussing bargaining.
• Helps ensure that sensitive operational or financial details shared in confidence remain protected.

You are only required to sign the NDA once, regardless of how many sessions you attend.

As a CIC member or observor, your local union may reimburse you according to the local union protocols. Local unions may only submit reimbursements for the Kickoff Session to the UTF.
All bargaining sessions following Kick-off are ineligible for reimbursement through the UTF.

Bargaining Subgroups are focused committees that bargain specific topics. The three bargaining subgroups are: AI & Technology, Partnership Effectiveness, and Staffing & Patient Care.

You are responsible for your own hotel accommodations.
Please refer to the confirmation email you received (which includes the hotel reservation details for your session) and contact the hotel directly to cancel.

At this time, only the Kickoff Session is open for registration.
The remaining sessions will open at a later time, post kick off — please return to the website then to register for additional sessions.