Hal Ruddick, who has served as executive director of the Coalition of KP Unions for four years, is stepping down and Walter Allen, OPEIU Local 30 executive director, will be serving as the Coalition’s acting executive director. Allen released the following statement:

As Hal and I work closely this week to transition his executive director duties, I want to take a moment to thank him for his significant contributions to our organization over the course of his leadership. In addition to steering the Coalition through 2015 bargaining and preparation for 2018 bargaining, Hal helped us strengthen the capacity of Coalition frontline leaders and staff to partner, build more transparent processes and structures, and prepare for future challenges to labor and to KP.

When Hal arrived in November of 2013, preparations for 2015 bargaining were already beginning. We won excellent wages and benefits, a complex retirement agreement protecting our benefits, and a host of improvements for union members.

During Hal’s tenure, we strengthened the Coalition’s capacity to partner in many ways – increasing support for member travel and training, revamping our learning program, starting the Frontline Skills Development Institute (FSDI), and developing more than 3,000 new frontline union leaders through the UBT Health and Safety Champions. We implemented more transparent budgets and processes for both the LMP Trust and the Coalition, and Hal built and led a more cohesive and diverse staff.

On a personal note, I want to recognize Hal for his professional and even-handed leadership.

Walter Allen is the executive director and chief financial officer of Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 30. He has agreed to serve as acting executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions.