Press Releases: Southern California

September 28, 2005

Contact: Jim Anderson, 626-405-5534 or Neal Sacharow, 626-405-5532

Kaiser Permanente and Coalition of 29 Unions to Announce Unique Five-Year Agreement

Nation's Largest Private Sector Contract Covering 82,000 Employees

Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are announcing a new five-year national agreement covering 82,000 employees, 29 local unions and 400-plus facilities in eight states and the District of Columbia. Kaiser Permanente approved the contract September 14th. Final votes for union ratification will be tallied Sept. 28.

WHAT:	News conference to announce details of landmark 2005 contract between Kaiser Permanente and Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. Photo/Video Opportunities: A hospital-based lift team will demonstrate how patients are safely moved -- an example of a labor management partnership success story.
WHEN:	Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, 11:30 a. m. (PDT)
WHO:	Benjamin Chu, President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Southern California Kathy Sackman, President, United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals Jorge Rodriguez, Executive Vice President, United Healthcare Workers-West Tom Williamson, Business Administrator, Southern California Permanente Medical Group
WHERE:	Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center (Administration Building, not hospital) 4841 Hollywood Boulevard (at Edgemont), Los Angeles 90027. For free media parking, enter gated lot and show credentials.

Note to reporters: You may also participate in the national news conference from Washington, D.C., via webcast and/or conference call between 11 and 11:30 a.m. PDT.
To join the nationwide telephone hookup, phone 866-818-1395. To view the live webcast on the day of the event, go to http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=30586.
The national video feed will also be available for viewing at the Los Angeles Location listed above. It will include comments from Leslie Margolin, Senior Vice President, Operations, for Kaiser Permanente and Peter diCicco, Executive Director, Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.3 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region includes more than 49,900 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,000 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at kaiserpermanente.org.