Kaiser Permanente Colorado has begun preliminary talks with its labor unions about workforce needs after the layoff of 400 workers in the last six months, according to The Denver Post.
The state's largest health insurer “is in the process of making operational changes so we can remain competitive and continue to provide the quality and service that our members expect,” Kaiser spokeswoman Amy Whited told the Post.
“No final decisions have been made and no changes are imminent,” she said, but the company has started “preliminary discussions with our labor unions to evaluate our future workforce requirements. While some positions may be eliminated as part of this review, others may be added.”
UFCW Local Union 7, which represents some Kaiser employees, declined to comment to the Post.
The discussions between Kaiser and its labor unions come after Kaiser announced about 200 layoffs in November and about 200 more in February amid financial struggles. Kaiser previously cited losses of $65 million over three years and blamed the financial problems on rising hospital prices.
According to the Post, Kaiser has more than 7,000 employees in Colorado.
More articles on human capital and risk:
Yale-New Haven Hospital, cafeteria workers sign labor deal
Idaho nurses vote to unionize
Stanford Health Care, Packard Children’s Hospital nurses authorize strike