MEMORANDUM REVISION
DATE: November 18, 2010
To: All ATU Employees
FROM: (Not Jeff Cartwright, Human Resources Director)
REVISED BY: Rita C DiIenno, President/Business Agent ATU #1384
SUBJECT: Health Insurance Update The True Story
As many of you may have heard, Jeff Cartwright (JC) began planning since March of 2010 to move our members from the Premera PPO to the Group Health plan. He did so in secret, without any notice to the ATU until the last week of October. It wasn’t until November 5th that we learned Premera dropped their offer to KT because of JC’s actions.
Because of his actions (unilateral and without negotiating) Premera, who had bid the plan for 2011, dropped their offer and subsequently the employer has failed to find any other insurance that will pick up the PPO on JC terms. As late as today JC could have withdrawn his actions that caused Premera and the others not to provide coverage. He has refused to do so. This is a violation of your rights under the terms of our contract and past practice, not to mention state law. He acknowledges the requirement to provide the same level of benefits, but to date has refused. We demanded to maintain the status quo, and bargain in good faith any changes. Any change is not legal until we reach agreement or have an arbitrator settle the question. Of course the employer is able to self insure, but so far has refused to do so.
I attended the Kitsap Transit Board Meeting to put them on notice and to advise that if they allow this, it could cost them far more in the end, if they don’t return to the status quo until a negotiated settlement is reached.
Despite the claim JC has worked diligently, Mark Dawson and I have met twice with him on our demand to bargain, and he has rejected multiple viable options that would have provided us with the same level of benefits. By his actions he hopes to save approximately 3.1 million, and it appears may be up to 6.2 million in benefits and wants to offer you what appears to be less than 4% of that savings back to our members for the taking of medical benefits. The offered incentive of approximately 4% of the three years saving, means they reap the benefit by their actions of approximately 96%, in their pocket. I would not call this an incentive, I would call it robbery. We won’t know the exact extent of the savings until the employer provides us with accurate data, since the initial cost saving was predicated on having Premera available to at least half of you who would have chosen to stay with the PPO.
The employer will not open enrollment to the ATU members until December 1, 2010. We will advise you before that date what if any settlement is reached. Likewise we will share with you our legal remedy by letter to your home before that date. If you have questions call me at 360-895-1384. In solidarity and protecting your rights!
Recent Comments