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     Current Issue Highlights Highlights Archive             Get to know your Business Agent today!  Find out how the union makes a difference on the job. |
Newsline: February 2001 UNIONS ACHIEVE BREAKTHROUGH IN HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS Spurred by the success of the Municipal Labor Committee in attaining an agreement with the city that will add more than $1 billion over five years to union health and welfare funds, negotiators from Local 237 met enthusiastically last month with Housing Authority representatives to seek solutions to problems unique to the housing developments. Members of the union met with HA negotiators in small groups dedicated to discussing issues specific to the management and operations of the sprawling complexes which provide the largest public housing in the world. Carl Haynes, president of Local 237 and executive vice chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC), said the union delegates were encouraged by the agreement with the city, which was reached Jan. 11. "This historic agreement shows what can be accomplished when the city engages in good faith negotiations rather than simply attempting to impose directives," Haynes asserted. He noted that the new health and welfare agreement was the second step in negotiations. The first was the successful pension agreement in June that provided more than $1 billion in benefits to both active and retired union members. The union leader said he felt the agreement paved the way for amicable agreement on wage increases, much deserved by city employees who sacrificed when the city was in severe fiscal straits. "Our members bore the brunt of the hard times, keeping the city functioning despite the additional hardships imposed by decimated work forces," Haynes said. "They deserve their fair share of the huge city surplus they helped create." Under the new agreement, services provided members by HIP and GHI will be increased and expanded. "Such things as the cost for injectable and behavioral drugs will no longer be the responsibility of the Welfare Funds but will be part of the city basic health plans," Haynes said. "These plans also will cover asthma and chemotherapy drugs for those members who do not belong to GHI or HIP." The agreement also calls for a college savings program that will permit employee contributions to be deducted from their taxable income. There will be a change in the requirements to obtain health and welfare coverage, however. The current provision requires only five years' service. Personnel who retire with less than 10 years of service will no longer receive health or welfare fund coverage. The city will also expand its 401K plan in addition to the existing 457 program. Nick Mancuso, chief negotiator for the union noted that: "In this new plan, our members will be able to take advantage of the expanded benefits allowed and will have more flexibility over the current 457 plan. " The maximum contribution allowed under the 457 Plan is $8,500. In the 401K plan, maximum contribution is $10,500. |
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