Higher ed health insurance bargaining update

Governor Disappoints – PSE Postcard Campaign Kicked Off

PSE members from Western Washington University and Central Washington University participated, along with PSE staff, in the consolidated “super coalition” health care negotiations for all civil service employees on Aug. 24 in Olympia.

The state is represented by the Governor’s negotiators from the Washington State Labor Relations Office (LRO). Because the law requires negotiations to take place far in advance of their implementation date, the contract which will ultimately contain any agreement on health care will begin on July 1, 2011.

Union negotiators were disappointed to receive the Governor’s initial proposal from LRO.  Her initial proposal would raise premium contributions by workers approximately 250%, while doing nothing to guarantee that benefit levels would be preserved at current levels.

Understandably, this proposal was rejected by the unions. PSE negotiators were vocal in expressing their members’ need for fair, affordable, health insurance coverage.

The negotiations include representatives of all unions which represent civil service workers in Washington. The outcome of these negotiations will affect the health care options available to approximately 340,000 people, as the state Health Care Authority sets contribution rates and models plan design for all state workers based upon the results of civil service super coalition bargaining.

The union coalition proposed maintaining the current premium share and benefit levels. While everyone understands that the state is facing a budget crisis, our feeling is that state workers have already given enough to help solve it.  Our members are in the middle of a four-year pay freeze; they have been hit with furloughs or outright hours reductions, in addition to layoffs. Workloads are skyrocketing in some departments, as the universities struggle to maintain service levels with fewer staff hours allotted to do the job.  

Negotiations will continue, although a new date has not been set. In order to focus our members’ attention on the problem, as well as to let the Governor hear their voices directly, PSE chapters at both WWU and CWU have begun to circulate postcards to our membership which carry a message to the Governor, and a space to add personal comments. 

Please sign a postcard ASAP. Take another to give to a friend. Our members need to know that they are facing a train wreck regarding their medical insurance, and everyone must be prepared to join the fight.