Kaiser Permanente reaches a tentative deal with health care worker unions after recent strike

• October 13, 2023

Unions representing 75,000 health care workers who recently held a strike against industry giant Kaiser Permanente over wages and staffing shortages have reached a tentative agreement with the company.

The three-day strike last week involving 75,000 workers in multiple states officially ended last Saturday and workers returned to their jobs in Kaiser’s hospitals and clinics that serve nearly 13 million Americans.

Also see: Kaiser ordered to revamp delivery of behavioral health care services

“The frontline healthcare workers of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions are excited to have reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente as of this morning,” the coalition posted Friday morning. “We are thankful for the instrumental support of Acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su.”

Kaiser Permanente, based in Oakland, California, confirmed the deal in a social media post.

Bargaining sessions had been scheduled for this week, the unions said.

Also see: Mary Lou Retton’s lack of insurance raises questions as crowdfunding passes $330,000

The strike for three days in California — where most of Kaiser’s facilities are located — as well as in Colorado, Oregon and Washington was a last resort after Kaiser executives ignored the short-staffing crisis worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, union officials said. The coalition had given the company notice that another strike from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8 was possible and the Oct. 31 expiration of a contract covering the Seattle area would enable another 3,000 workers to join picket lines.

Their goal was to bring the problems to the public’s consciousness for support, according to the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. Some 180 workers from facilities in Virginia and Washington, D.C., also picketed but only on Wednesday.

Also see: California workers will get five sick days instead of three under new law

The strikers include licensed vocational nurses, home health aides and ultrasound sonographers, as well as technicians in the radiology, X-ray, surgical, pharmacy and emergency departments.

Related Articles

“No health care worker wants to go on strike,” Caroline Lucas, the coalition’s executive director, said Thursday. “I hope that the last few days have helped escalate this issue.”

The company warned the work stoppage could cause delays in people getting appointments and scheduling non-urgent procedures.

Unions representing Kaiser workers in August asked for a $25 hourly minimum wage, as well as increases of 7% each year in the first two years and 6.25% each year in the two years afterward.

Kaiser, which turned a $2.1 billion profit for the quarter, said in a statement last week that it proposed minimum hourly wages between $21 and $23 depending on the location. The company said it also completed hiring 10,000 more people, adding to the 51,000 workers the hospital system has brought on board since 2022.

Union members say understaffing is boosting the hospital system’s profits but hurting patients, and executives have been bargaining in bad faith during negotiations.

The workers’ last contract was negotiated in 2019, before the pandemic.

​ Orange County Register 

Why Disneyland raised ticket prices while Disney World didn’t

• October 13, 2023

There are plenty of reasons why Disneyland hiked ticket prices this week while Disney World held the line, but none of them are going to make visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth very happy.

Disneyland raised admission prices by as much as 25% on Wednesday, Oct. 11 with the most expensive one-day, one-park ticket now $194.

Walt Disney World did not hike daily ticket prices this week — but Disney’s four Florida parks did raise prices on annual passes and parking.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland rolls out new pumpkin-shaped Cinderella carriage for $180,000 fairy tale weddings

Why didn’t Disney World raise ticket prices at the same time as Disneyland?

There are four key reasons.

1) Disney World raised ticket prices twice in 2022. The last time Disneyland raised ticket prices was in October 2022 — exactly a year ago.

2) Disney uses ticket pricing to manage demand — charging less on slow days and more on busy days in hopes of better balancing attendance.

3) Disney plans to double its investment in theme parks to $60 billion over the next decade — and those costs ultimately need to be passed along to visitors.

4) Florida is having a tougher tourism year than California, according to Theme Park Insider.

“In Florida, Disney is looking to boost its attendance numbers and drive more spending,” according to Theme Park Insider.

SEE ALSO: The biggest winners in the Disneyland Magic Key settlement aren’t annual passholders

Disneyland and Disney World have always operated independently despite their shared DNA.

“Disney’s choice to get aggressive on pricing in California while holding the line on prices (for the most part) and loosening restrictions in Florida suggests that Disney is seeing much stronger demand for its theme parks in California than in Florida at the moment,” according to Theme Park Insider.

In addition to Disneyland’s daily ticket price hike, multi-day tickets rose by as much as 15.7% and parkhopper passes climbed by as much as 25%. Parking and Genie+ line-cutting passes also went up at Disneyland.

The lowest-priced $104 one-day, one-park ticket for Disneyland or Disney California Adventure remained the same — unchanged since 2019.

SEE ALSO: What’s the next Star Wars destination for Disneyland’s Star Tours?

Disney World visitors didn’t see a price hike this time around after facing a double-whammy last year.

Disney World increased prices for multi-day tickets in February and December 2022, according to WDW News Today.

Related Articles

Also in December 2022, Disney World introduced park-specific pricing for one-day, one-park admissions with tickets topping out at $159 for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the least expensive of Disney’s four Florida parks, and $189 for the Magic Kingdom, the most expensive.

Disney World officials said at the time the price increases were due to strong demand and continued theme park investments.

Disneyland can always course correct if the latest ticket price increases prove too aggressive, according to Theme Park Insider.

“If Disney overshot the market in California, expect to see more aggressive locals-focused ticket discounts in the spring and summer, which are slower months for the parks here than the busy Halloween and holiday seasons,” according to Theme Park Insider.

​ Orange County Register 

Mission Viejo ordered to pay more than $715,000 in attorneys’ fees, judge says

• October 13, 2023

Mission Viejo must pay more than $715,000 in attorneys’ fees, a judge said, to a resident who challenged how the city extended three councilmembers’ terms while it worked on implementing a new voting system.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm last week ordered the city to pay additional fees, bringing the total to $715,137. The city is disputing at least some of those awarded fees, City Attorney Bill Curley said.

City leaders intended to transition to a new cumulative style of voting in Mission Viejo in response to complaints that its election process diluted the voting power of minority residents. It would have required all council members to be elected at the same time, so three seats were elected to two-year terms in 2018 to even things out. The change was ultimately abandoned because of pushback from the state, and the city instead instituted district-based voting last year, which required council terms to be staggered again.

In 2022, Schwarm ruled three councilmembers — Ed Sachs, Greg Raths and Wendy Bucknum — had stayed longer than the two years to which voters elected them in 2018 and would need to vacate their seats. (Bucknum is the only one who is still a councilmember following the elections last year.)

Mission Viejo resident Michael Schlesinger filed legal action in 2021 challenging whether the three councilmembers’ tenure should have been prolonged as city officials worked out the new city-wide voting system, which they said took longer than expected. City officials argued because the city didn’t change its election process, the terms reverted back to their original four years in the city code.

Related links

3 Mission Viejo council members removed from office, court may still consider appeal
Term extensions in Mission Viejo challenged as voting for City Council is changed
Mission Viejo drops cumulative voting idea, moves to district-based elections

Bucknum, Raths and Sachs were removed from office in November 2022, but the ruling did not bar them from running for reelection. Bucknum won her election to her seat. However, due to how the new districts were drawn, Raths and Sachs had to run in the same district. They lost to Councilmember Cynthia Vasquez.

“These attorneys’ fee awards vindicate our efforts to hold the city and the City Council accountable,” said Schlesinger. “What is sad is that all the city and the City Council had to do was simply follow the law.”

Schlesinger also successfully challenged the plan to extend the terms of Councilmembers Trish Kelley and Brian Goodell, who were elected in 2020, by an additional two years. Schwarm ordered that all five seats be on the ballot last year.

“In simple terms, Goodell, Kelley, Sachs, Bucknum and Raths tried to deprive myself and my fellow citizens of the right to vote,” said Schlesinger. “They got caught and are paying the consequences for their despicable and unprecedented actions.”

Neither Bucknum, Goodell, Kelley, Raths or Sachs responded to requests for comment.

Related Articles

While the issue involving the length of councilmembers’ terms has been decided, the city is still in a dispute over the attorneys’ fees, Curley said.

“As to the money that plaintiff’s legal counsel now seek from city taxpayers, the city notes that the total amount sought in court filings by plaintiff’s three law firms was some $1.2 million,” Curley said, pointing out the trial court awarded about half of that.

The city is appealing the award of fees in one case and might in another, he said.

“I do not think any of us expected to spend this much time on the case,” said attorney Aaron Hand, who represents Schlesinger. “Because of the efforts the city went through to delay the process, to push out a resolution and the legal battle they decided to put us in, we all ended up spending more time fighting out attorney fees than we did over the substance of the case.”

​ Orange County Register 

Why do trucks take lanes through former toll-booth areas?

• October 13, 2023

Q. Why is there a separate lane for trucks and vehicles with trailers that goes through the old toll booth areas at the northern part of the 241 Toll Road? Vehicles pulling trailers routinely instead use the regular three left-hand lanes. This is the only point on the 241 tollway that requires this special treatment. Northbound traffic in the afternoon becomes totally grid-locked, so any truck wanting to go westbound on the 91 Freeway has to really fight to get over to the far-left lanes after clearing the former toll areas.

– Mark Speros, San Juan Capistrano

A. Caltrans wanted truck-climbing lanes out there on steep slopes “to allow trucks and other slower vehicles to stay to the right of main traffic,” said Michele Miller, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Corridor Agencies, which manages the 241, 73, 261 and 133 toll roads. These stretches met Caltrans’ criteria for such lanes.

In 2014, when those toll roads stopped collecting cash and went to all-electronic tolling, the toll plazas were reconfigured and the signs changed to direct trucks and cars with trailers through those areas to separate them for a bit from the rest of traffic to improve the flow. The climbing lanes had been there before, but were modified.

The 241 has climbing lanes in both directions at what is called the Windy Ridge Toll Point. On the 73, there is a similar setup at the Catalina View Toll Point.

The California Highway Patrol is to enforce the laws on these tollways, including ensuring that trucks and trailers take their special lanes.

“We do have details who work specifically on the 241,” said Sergio Rivera, a spokesman and officer for the California Highway Patrol.

But, he added, an officer needs to be out there during the violation, and might choose to go after a bigger problem instead – say an excessive speeder.

Now, as to whether there is enough time on the northbound 241 at the Windy Ridge Toll Point for truckers to get into a left lane, Miller said in an email:

“The roadway design allows for sufficient distance of over one mile to access the lanes that merge onto westbound 91. The Transportation Corridor Agencies … installed signage and pavement markings to provide advanced notice to motorists who want to access the westbound or eastbound lanes to the 91.”

Related Articles

Q. Hi Honk: Now that we are seeing gas prices spike and hear refinery problems are part of the problem, do you know why we don’t build more refineries in this country? Sure would alleviate a large part of the problem.

– Bob King, Huntington Beach

A. It seems building a significant one, at least here in the states, would face more hurdles than Edwin Moses ever did, Bob.

A story earlier this year in Barron’s cited such woes as securing the needed permits and the amount of money and time it takes to build one. Forbes, in an article from last year, added other obstacles: climate change concerns and society’s resistance to promote fossil fuels.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, Fox Business reported, said last year he didn’t believe the U.S. would produce another new refinery because of the federal government’s stance: “At every level of the system, the policy of our government is to reduce demand, and so it’s very hard in a business where investments have a payout period of a decade or more.”

There are, though, new refineries in Nigeria and Mexico.

HONKIN’ FACT: The 1953 double-decker bus Paul and Linda McCartney bought in 1972 for a Wings tour that year will be on the auction block in mid-November. Painted in psychedelic colors, it offered a playpen, mattresses and beanbags on the top deck for the bandmates and their families while enjoying the sunshine. The bus logged more than 7,500 miles in ’72 for a European tour. It is forecast to be sold for $200,000 to $300,000. (Source: Julien’s Auctions.)

To ask Honk questions, reach him at [email protected]. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk

​ Orange County Register 

Newsom’s aspirations temper his progressive instincts

• October 13, 2023

SACRAMENTO – If you’re like me and simply want the government to leave us alone and tend to its basic tasks – providing public services, building infrastructure, etc. – then you no doubt follow every legislative session with foreboding. Progressive Democrats who control our state are intent on regulating our lives and raising our taxes, which leads to a sense of vulnerability as hundreds of intrusive bills head to the governor’s desk.

This year, however, Gov. Gavin Newsom pulled a few surprises. He insists that he’s not running for president, but his vetoes of the fringiest measures suggest his promises aren’t ironclad. He rejected nearly 20 percent of bills that reached his desk, which is an “unusually large percentage,” per CalMatters. Many veto messages, it noted, include boilerplate language warning that some bills would add to the state’s deficit. He seems to be channeling his predecessor, deficit-weary Jerry Brown.

Here are some of the main examples. Newsom vetoed a measure requiring public schools to provide free, easily available condoms to students. His budgetary argument was a stretch, but any governor with national aspirations wouldn’t want such baggage. Can you see the TV ads from his opponents had he signed it? Likewise, with his veto of Amsterdam-like cannabis cafes and a measure that would have decriminalized some psychedelic drugs.

He also nixed a bill to provide one week of severance to laid-off grocery store workers for every year of work, noting that state law already provides myriad layoff protections. He rejected a cap on insulin co-pays, explaining the state already is working on a plan to lower costs. His veto of a ban on caste discrimination came with the sensible explanation that such discrimination already is illegal.

Newsom rejected a ludicrous bill that would have created a state agency to build and manage government-owned housing. He again raised the cost argument, but anyone who has followed the sordid history of public-housing projects in America would quickly realize that the government can’t fix our state’s housing woes (although it can make them worse) – and would produce terribly managed high-rise slums.

Sure, unions scored expected legislative victories, but Newsom at least vetoed a bill giving striking workers unemployment benefits – something that would have overburdened a system already facing insolvency. The governor rejected cash payments up to $1,900 a month for undocumented seniors – another decision that makes sense in the context of a national political campaign.

Progressives were understandably disappointed, but that should only hearten the rest of us. “While a lot of these bills may not fly in the Deep South, they’re unremarkable in progressive California, and were on Newsom’s desk in the first place because the state Legislature put them there – ostensibly carrying out the will of California voters,” lamentedCNN columnist Jill Filipovic. Yes, legislators put them there, but elected governors have the final say regarding the “will of the people.” That’s how our system works.

Newsom mostly vetoed bills that would have provided immense pushback for little gain. I have nothing against legalizing psychedelics, but critics far outnumbered beneficiaries. Newsom did sign several noxious measures. He OK’d a bill making it harder for landlords to evict troublesome tenants. He required companies to disclose greenhouse-gas emissions. He banned certain food additives. That’s par for the course in progressive California.

Newsom also signed a bill allowing Capitol staffers to join a union beginning in 2026. State workers belong to unions, but legislative workers are unique. Legislators need the flexibility to hire whomever they choose to implement their agenda. These mostly are political positions, with a high churn rate – not career jobs. I chuckle at that one for mischievous reasons, as it might remind union-friendly lawmakers of the burdens they place on other employers. I bet lawmakers will regret this one.

Related Articles

Newsom signed a massive package of 56 housing-related bills. Some involve troublesome tenant protections. But some are good. Most notably, Senate Bill 423 streamlines housing approvals in coastal cities (reducing the power of the anti-growth California Coastal Commission) and loosens regulations for market-rate projects. Senate Bill 4 allows universities and religious groups to build – on a by-right basis – housing on their property.

Newsom touted a term I’ve never heard: YIGBY (Yes In God’s Back Yard). That’s weird, but it probably will result in additional new housing. God bless him for that signing. He even signed legislation that clarifies the California Environmental Quality Act, thus making it harder for local NIMBY governments to abuse CEQA to limit housing approvals.

In his statement, Newsom quoted Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who is the driving force behind pro-housing reforms: “The era of saying no to housing is coming to an end. We’ve been planting seeds for years to get California to a brighter housing future, and today we’re continuing strongly down that path.” May it be so.

So it’s been a less-bad legislative session than expected. I still feel relief it’s over.

Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute and a member of the Southern California News Group editorial board. Write to him at [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

High school football: Scores from the Week 8 games Thursday, Oct. 12

• October 13, 2023

All of the scores from the CIF-SS and L.A. City high school football games Thursday, Oct. 12.

THURSDAY’S SCORES

CIF-SS

605 LEAGUE

Artesia 37, Pioneer 19

Cerritos 38, Glenn 0

BIG 4 LEAGUE

Segerstrom 64, Katella 0

BIG WEST-UPPER LEAGUE

Corona Centennial 62, Vista Murrieta 14

CITRUS 4 LEAGUE

Colony 34, South Hills 14

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Foothill 22, Villa Park 21

EMPIRE LEAGUE

Cypress 42, Placentia Valencia 14

HACIENDA LEAGUE

Diamond Bar 42, Nogales 0

Walnut 42, Ontario 6

IVY LEAGUE

Rancho Verde 45, Elsinore 10

MARMONTE LEAGUE

St. Bonaventure 29, Simi Valley 24

MIRAMONTE LEAGUE

La Puente 14, Bassett 10

MISSION VALLEY LEAGUE

Arroyo 63, Mountain View 14

MOORE LEAGUE

Long Beach Poly 50, Cabrillo 6

MOJAVE RIVER LEAGUE

Serrano 35, Sultana 22

MOUNTAIN VALLEY LEAGUE

San Bernardino 34, Rubidoux 16

ORANGE LEAGUE

Anaheim 51, Magnolia 22

PACIFIC LEAGUE

Burbank Burroughs 41, Arcadia 7

RIO HONDO LEAGUE

San Marino 35, Pasadena Poly 0

SKYLINE LEAGUE

Bloomington 20, Colton 18

Fontana 47, Riverside Notre Dame 6

SUNKIST LEAGUE

Summit 35, Grand Terrace 21

SUNSET LEAGUE

Edison 31, Newport Harbor 28

NONLEAGUE

Vista del Lago 41, Moreno Valley 18

L.A. CITY

EASTERN LEAGUE

Huntington Park 27, Los Angeles Roosevelt 12

Bell 14, South Gate 0

8-MAN

CIF-SS

Milken 69, Vista Meridian 6

CITY SECTION

Sherman Oaks CES 38, East Valley 14

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Passing attack lifts Anaheim football to win over Magnolia that boosts playoff chances

• October 13, 2023

ANAHEIM — The Anaheim football team stayed true to its new offensive philosophy by airing it out early and often in a 51-22 victory over Magnolia on Thursday night at Western High.

Colonists quarterback MJ Fernandez threw five touchdown passes, three going to wide receiver Jason Garrett, in the Orange League contest.

Anaheim (4-4, 2-1) is now on track for a postseason berth, and coach Lanny Booher hopes to continue the team’s momentum in an important league game next week against Savanna.

“Obviously, to get that one (next week), it would get us into the playoffs and it would be big,” Booher said. “Our third win (in league) would probably get us in, so that’s the most important thing right now. We’ll worry about Western when they come.”

Garrett caught three passes for 75 yards with each reception scoring a touchdown. Fernandez, who finished with 239 yards passing, also threw TD passes to Jeremiah Castro and Xavier Aviles.

“It was great,” Booher said of the Fernandez-Garrett connection. “Jason got hurt early in the season, so he’s only been back for a couple of games, so its really good to see that timing come back. Hopefully we can make a playoff run and they can continue to click.”

Anaheim running back Eduardo Guardado ran for 116 yards and two second-half touchdowns.

The Colonists scored on the first play of the game, a 68-yard catch by Castro, and made it 14-0 on Fernandez’s next completion, a 58-yard pass to Garrett.

Magnolia quarterback Andre Scott passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns and also recorded an interception on defense against Anaheim on Thursday, Oct. 12. (Photo by David Delgado)

Magnolia sophomore quarterback Andre Scott threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns passes. His favorite target was Dontay Houston, who caught nine passes for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Sentinels (1-7, 1-2) also got a big contribution from Samuel Alcazar, who had five receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Magnolia scored on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Scott to Alcazar and then recovered the ensuing onside kick.

The Sentinels took the lead, 15-14, with an 11-yard TD catch by Houston and a 2-point conversion by Scott.

Magnolia coach Poutoa Fuega recognizes that his team is very young and lacking experience, but he liked what he saw when the Sentinels took a brief advantage to end the first quarter after falling behind 14-0.

“Normally, when we get down like that, the kids are already breaking down,” Fuega said, “but this time they actually prevailed and picked up the pieces.”

“We knew they had some athletic guys and they were going to be tough to contain,” Booher said of the first-quarter play by Magnolia. “When you make mistakes, those guys will make you pay for it.”

Aviles’ 39-yard TD catch in the second quarter on third-and-28 gave the Colonists a 21-15 lead they would not relinquish.

The Sentinels fumbled on the next play from scrimmage and the loose ball was recovered by Joshua Meza.

Fernandez found Jason Garrett for a 15-yard TD pass later in the second quarter, then Ricardo Vela added a 23-yard field goal before halftime.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Foothill football stuns Villa Park in Crestview League opener with rousing finish

• October 13, 2023

ORANGE — A gutsy decision by Foothill football coach Doug Case to go for a 2-point conversion after Aaron Mitchell’s 2-yard touchdown run with under two minutes remaining in the game proved to be the difference in the Knights’ 22-21, come from behind victory over previously undefeated Villa Park in a Crestview League opener Thursday at El Modena High School.

Mitchell’s scoring run was the highlight of a 53-yard scoring drive that featured huge completions from Foothill quarterback Nicholas Miali and a wild play in which possession changed twice.

Miali ran in the winning 2-point conversion following Mitchell’s touchdown.

Foothill quarterback Nicholas Miali (10) completed 11 of 22 passes for 162 yards and ran in the game-winning 2-point conversion in the Knights’ 22-21 victory over Villa Park on Thursday, Oct. 12, at El Modena High School. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

“We’re on the road, we’re fighting for a league title,” Case said. “There was no doubt in my mind we were going for two right then. We had momentum, the kids were fired up, we’ve been a great second-half team. They were tired at the end. Mitchell just scored on an easy jab, so we just faked it to Mitchell, and Miali ran it in for the 2-pointer.”

With Crestview League teams playing only three league games, one more victory for the Knights (5-3, 1-0) can almost guarantee a playoff berth.

The Spartans (7-1, 0-1), who are ranked No. 10 in Orange County, need to pick up a victory next week in a home contest against Yorba Linda.

In the game-winning drive, the Knights had possession on the Spartans’ 34 when Mialli completed a 30-yard pass to the 4.

But the ball was fumbled and picked up by Jacob Johnson of Villa Park, who ran 30 yards before fumbling the ball back to the Knights.

Foothill faced a fourth-and-9 from the Spartans 32 when Miali completed a 17-yard pass to Jack Zerkel, and that was followed by an 11-yard completion to Connor Pietras.

Mitchell scored two plays later, setting up the winning 2-point conversion.

Villa Park took over at its 20 with 1:49 remaining and in a position to win the game with a field goal.

But Foothill safety Bode Jellerson put an end to that possibility with an interception with 46 seconds remaining.

An interception by Foothill safety Bode Jellerson (3) with 49 seconds remaining sealed the Knights’ 22-21 victory over Villa Park in a Crestview LEague opener Thursday, Oct. 12, at El Modena High School. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

“We put in a cover four drop back because we knew we’d probably find ourselves in a situation like this,” Jellerson said. “They had a little bit of time in the pocket. It was probably bound to get intercepted if it took them that long to get it off. It was definitely a pop fly. We were locked in on the football.”

Vince Lagatta’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Jarrel gave Villa Park a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

Lagatta then connected with Carter Christie for a 9-yard score, making the score 14-0 after the successful 2-point conversion.

On the ensuing kickoff, Jacob Williams recovered a fumble for the Spartans on the Foothill 23 and it appeared as though the Spartans would add to their lead.

But the momentum changed quickly when Foothill’s Bryce Perkins intercepted a third-down pass at the 1 and returned it 91 yards.

Aaron Mitchell scored on a 4-yard run three plays later to make the score 14-7.

The Knights forced a punt and then Miali then scored on a 1-yard run on the final play of the first half to tie the score.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register