Insurance Negotiations Reach Impasse

Insurance Negotiations Reach Impasse

On September 2, bargaining unit representatives from the teachers, nurses, custodial/maintenance and bus drivers met with the district to negotiate an insurance proposal to be presented to the school board on September 21. This was the third meeting in a series regarding the district's self-funded insurance program and the rapid depletion of the Health Benefit Trust (HBT) - the fund that collects premiums and pays claims for all health insurance and wellness programs. The two negotiating teams failed to reach an agreement, and the meeting ended in impasse.

Proposals

SNEA had researched other self-funded plans and found an example of one large district that had successfully solved the "roller coaster" ride of premiums and benefits through a cooperative effort between the district and employee representatives. The SPS employee coalition (teachers, nurses, custodial/maintenance, bus drivers) issued a final proposal to the district, on September 2, that included modest increases in deductibles and co-insurance, as well as a new wellness premium revenue stream based on our research. The employee group clearly voiced their view that the district should not place the entire burden of fixing the HBT on the backs of the employees. To that end, the employee coalition proposal provided approximately half the desired "fix" and asked the district to respond, in kind, with the other half.

United Opposition

The district did not respond favorably to the employee group's proposal, and the health insurance negotiations ended with impasse. SNEA and all the other employee representatives are united in their opposition to the district proposal that will be presented to the school board on September 21. We believe the administration's proposal offers no long term solution and, once again, places the entire burden for fixing the falling HBT on the employees, who have already endured two consecutive years of salary freezes and an unprecedented 0.5% cut to retirement contributions.

September 21 Board Meeting

The school board will meet on September 21 to hear the administration's proposal. Since there is no ratified contract yet that contains an impasse resolution provision, the administration will present this unilaterally. The board meeting starts at 5:30 at the new KAC. If you haven't seen the new building yet, this might be a good time to visit a board meeting and make visible, through your presence, our united opposition to this proposal.