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Important Issues
Facts about UC's Relationship with Hill & Knowlton |
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History of UC-Hill & Knowlton relationship
UC’s relationship with Hill & Knowlton began in late 2005. During 2005 contract negotiations, the California Nurses Association (CNA) threatened to strike against UC medical centers. In order to ensure uninterrupted service to patients and the broader communities served by UC medical centers, UC sought a court order prohibiting the union from conducting such a strike. (UC believed the threatened strike to be presumptively illegal since bargaining was ongoing and the parties had not even started mediation and fact-finding which are pre-conditions for CNA to be able to call a legal strike.)
The court ruled in UC’s favor and issued an order restraining the union from striking: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/2005/jul20.html. The Public Employment Relations Board also issued a complaint against CNA which was heard this year. A final ruling on this matter is expected soon.
Even though UC was successful in restraining the union, the strike threat alone cost the University medical centers a total of approximately $9 million in emergency arrangements (e.g., contracting for temporary additional staffing and other emergency operational provisions).
CNA arguably has one of the most robust communications operations in organized labor. It is known for its national publicity and political advocacy campaigns, and for its ability to rapidly disseminate information to a variety of audiences, including union members, elected officials and the media.
While UC has a communications office with resources devoted to labor-related communications, the office serves a broad spectrum of communications needs, not just bargaining-related needs. The 2005 CNA strike threat underscored for the University the importance of being able to swiftly communicate with its audiences, both internally and externally.
In light of the significant impact on patient care and community service that union strikes and strike threats pose, UC medical centers decided it was prudent to secure supplemental communications support during contract negotiations. Thus, Hill & Knowlton was hired to work as an adjunct to, and under the direction of, the University’s communications office.
Following interviews with several potential vendors, Hill & Knowlton was chosen to provide additional communications support for UC’s 2006 bargaining activities. Hill & Knowlton was chosen for its professionalism, high-quality work, and subject matter knowledge.
Accurate and timely information: A benefit for UC employees and the public
Hill & Knowlton has been invaluable in helping UC keep its employees and the general public educated about UC labor negotiations and all UC does as an employer to recognize and reward employees. In fact, UC employees have expressed their appreciation for the clear, factual, and timely information they receive about negotiations.
Use of outside communications firm common, including among unions
In today’s information age, an organization’s ability to effectively communicate with its audiences is increasingly challenging, and important, and many institutions look to outside professionals for advice and help. As the San Francisco Chronicle reported last December, UC is not alone among universities its use of outside communications professionals: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/05/BAGAAMPI351.DTL
Additionally, unions themselves also dedicate significant resources to communications-related activities, including the use outside communications professional to help them in their lobbying, organizing and media relations efforts. For example, according to union financial disclosures, CNA spends significant amounts of money on communications, including the use of public relations consultants: http://www.ucnurses.com/index.php/cna_lm-2_2005.html
About H&K clients
As a leading communications firm, Hill & Knowlton provides services to a wide range of clients regarding a broad spectrum of needs and issues. Their clients not only include Fortune 500 companies, their work also includes countless hours of pro-bono work for clients like Transfair USA; Brave Kids, a non-profit that serves families and care providers of children with serious and life-threatening illnesses; and a national pro-bono partnership with the Student Conservation Association to promote the involvement of young people in the conservation of public lands. Additionally, H&K has worked with the California Department of Health Services Five-A-Day program regarding nutrition-related issues, and the State of California generally to promote the heath of infants and children in California through a program that called BabyCal, as well as the state’s recycling efforts.
Commitment to professionalism
Hill & Knowlton has a strict Code of Professional Conduct policy that all its employees must follow. Among other things, it demands openness, honesty and accuracy, and expressly forbids any employee from attempting to improperly influence the media, the public or government bodies, or disseminate false or misleading information. More information about Hill & Knowlton, including a copy of the firm’s Code of Conduct, is available here.
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