Negotiation Update for May 25th
HCEA members present: Diana Bartholomew, Cindy Fredenburg, Jim Eckert, Cynthia Schofield, Emily Subers, Laura Swain
Board of Education team members: Tammy Chapman, Carol Davis, Al Miller, John Severson
Mediator: Jim Corbin
The meeting started out with a delicious dinner provided to all by the middle school. Thank You!
After dinner, we were quite surprised when the Board's team announced they would not sit at the table but wanted to work solely through the mediator. So we could eat together and chit-chat, but when it came time to present their proposal, they couldn't discuss it face-to-face.
They left the room and we were presented with their offer which included:
I A three year contract
II Cash in lieu of insurance $300 a month
III Coaches' Salaries: Rate increases for middle school cross country, swimming, tennis, track, (boys and girls), volleyball (7th and 8th) and wrestling.
IV Band Salary Increases
V Tuition Reimbursement: Agree to raise reimbursement rate from $75 per credit hour to $100.00 per credit hour.
VI Teachers serving breakfast to students in their classrooms will be paid $2.00 additional compensation per day.
The Board also provided three health insurance options though no specific insurances were named in the first two, some were easy to determine.
Option A: Option A was to be be the same deal for both contract years: for July 1, 2011-2012-June 30, 2013
(1) Parties agree to a composite premium of $18,460/yr
Employees to contribute 20% of total benefit preiums
(2) Wages 0% full steps
Employees to earn .25% bonus, off schedule, with "satisfactory" evaluation.
Please note that this was not even an attempt in good faith. Governor Snyder considers 10% of insurance premiums to be "best practice." Thus, this is a "got you" and the Board adds insult to injury by offering 0% to help defray the cost of 20% premiums. Apparently, by not requiring a deductible, the Board though this was a fair deal. It is hard to imagine what they would consider unfair.
Option B: Option B was to be same deal for both contract years: for July 1, 2011-2012 and July 1, 1012-June 30, 2013 (current benefit level with $20/$400 deductible):
(1) Parties agree to a composite premium of $17,772/yr,
Employees to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(2) Wages 1% increase, full steps
Employees to earn .25% bonus, off-schedule, with "satisfactory" evaluation.
Please note that Option B appears to be our proposed MESSA plan, as the numbers match up with the MESSA plan the HCEA Bargaining Team has offered this Board throughout negotiations. Once more remember, Governor Snyder considers 10% of insurance premiums to be "best practice." Thus, this is a "got you" and the Board adds insult to injury by offering 1% to help defray the cost of 20% of premiums. The Board is very aware that a 1% raise will make it impossible for the teachers towards the bottom of the steps to afford the 20% of emloyee contribution. Furthermore, the Board is very aware that new MESSA rates go into effect on July 1, 2011. At that time the membership (if the Board does not settle with us) will be responsible for their $85 monthly premium share plus any increase (as per HB 4152). So, it is to the Board's advantage to not allow us to go to a more affordable MESSA plan. Please be aware that the Association Team has for the last six months consistently offered a lower cost MESSA plan (same benefit level with a $200/$400 annual deductible. Yet, the Board is not interested in the saving rates it provided. The Board's refusal to accept HCEA's offer is further proof that money is not an issue for Harper Creek, but providing teachers with good insurance evidently is an issue. We believe the Board's plan is to scare us (bully us) into Priority, but they underestimate the resolve of HCEA members. We will continue on into Fact Finding and Court Appearances for ULP's (Unfair Labor Practices) if that is what they want. Ironically, the Boar's attorney will make a fortune in Fact Finding and Court.
Option C; (Priority Health, NVA, and, UNUM):
(1) Parties agree to the following premiums:
(a) Single: $4980/yr. Employees to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(b) Two person: $10,885/yr, Employee to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(c) Full Family: $12,588/yr, Employee to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(2) Board to place $1,500 single, $3,000 two person (plus) in employee owned Health Savings Account upon implementation.
(3) Wages 4% increase, full steps
Employees to earn .25% bonus, off-schedule, with "satisfactory" evaluation.
Year two of above option is same wages 2% increase on-scale, 2% off-schedule,
Please note that each time we meet with the Board's team, we present them with unsettling news regarding Priority Health. See the examples by clicking the underlined numbers connected to a hyperlink.
# One # Two # Three
The Board has yet to ever acknowledge these warning signals! OUR VOICES ARE BEING IGNORED.
In addition, our research reveals that Priority Health appears a great deal if one is healthy, but one accident consisting of a broken bone on top of a case of strep throat and suddenly one has depleted the $3000 Health Savings Plan for a family of two or more. Thus, it is not surprising the Board has offered a higher wage increase, if you or someone in your famiy has one accident and a normal illness, the wage increase will be needed and most likely it will not be enough.
To add insult to the proposal, the Board once more stated in its proposal, "The designation of MESSA as a carrier must no longer be proposed by the Association."
We responded to the Board's Proposal by choosing the second option and STATED we wanted MESSA and a higher wage increase. The district responded to our counter with a lower salary increase and a request for a cost cap for the 2012-2013 insurance. Due to the late hour (it was after 11:00 P.M.) we were unable to attain a Tentative Agreement, but left the meeting optimistic that one was close as we were only $15,000 apart in total compensation. Thursday we sent a proposal that contained the requested cost cap. In return, we received a proposal where a number of the clauses were completely different from those of the previous proposals. Friday we sent in an amended proposal and were told the board didn't go for it 20 minutes later. However, we discovered Friday afternoon that not all the board was contacted. Once more, we do not consider telling us half truths as good faith bargaining.
Please note the board did not hesitate to pay Ray Davis over $20,000 for teacher negotiations. Yet, the Board could not find the $15,000 needed to settle a three year contract. We find it difficult to understand why the board refuses to settle and pay the teachers of Harper Creek. Who has more contact with students, Ray Davis or the teachers in Harper Creek? The students in Harper Creek will not attain anything for that $20,000.
A budget is a moral agenda. A budget illustrates and illuminates the priorities of the ones who create it. When the Board chooses to budget money for a lawyer to keep us from attaining a contact and refuses to invest in the teachers of the district, then the Board is verbalizing through its actions what it values and holds in high regard. Apparently, it is not its teaches.
So, where do we stand?
1. Our current MESSA rates expire 5/31. With no agreement and current legislation, we will have to pay additional premium cost ourselves beginning in July.
2. The Board keeps moving the target - they say they want something; we figure it out and respond, they counter with something completely different.
3. They know we lose our MESSA rates on the 31st and their strategy is to delay reaching agreement until we do. They think we are more likely to accept Priority Health if faced with increased costs ow.
4. The Board of Education is letting Lansing do its dirty work for them. And Lansing is certainly doing that.
What do we need from you?
1, Tenured teachers-please carefully consider any non-contact work you are performing. If it's voluntary or poorly paid, you could decline the invitation to attend that workshop or participate in that ceremony, or take that training.
2. There is a Board meeting June 13th. Please plan to attend in your hideous yellow shirt.
3. Let a negotiation team member know if you no longer support our current goal which is to maintain MESSA for our members and to attain a raise to sustain any cost increases we incur.
4. Also, please note we have been brainstorming and we will share our ideas/strategies with HCEA members at the various schools over the next few weeks. We have already scheduled several school meeting. SOLIDARITY is crucial at the point in the journey. Unless you tell us otherwise, we will continue to maintain what we have bargained for over numerous contracts. We firmly believe that Lansing is trying to break the MEA. It would be nice if we had a board that supported us like other boards are supporting their teachers across Michigan. However, it is apparent that neither our board nor our superintendent is interested in that role.
PLEASE READ FREDDY'S COMMENTS CAREFULLY as if we as an association are not careful in the choice of insurance, the new motto for members could be: "You are only one accident away from debt or bankruptcy." The Board has not bargained in good faith for an entire year, it is hard to believe they are concerned for our health or the health of our families.
A side note from Cindy Fredenburg:
A couple weeks ago I had an emergency appendectomy at Oaklawn Hospital. I discovered that the employees at Oaklawn had recently switched insurance carriers to Priority Health. I asked each person, from the one who checked me in to the person who wheeled me out 3 days later, "How do you like Priority Health?" Not one person said anything good about PH. One nurse told me about her husband's surgery. By the time they paid all the deductibles for the doctor's visits, tests, surgery, anesthesia, hospital stay and prescriptions, their portion of the bill was over $2000. Another nurse told me she has a child who has to take a particular prescription and the non generic works best for him. The cost has been significantly higher and they had difficulty with the "step therapy" program. PH has a step theory program for prescription "formulas" and the patient has to start with PH's formula and work their way up to a non generic drug. One of the doctors told me to fight hard and hang on to MESSA.
Another friend works for the city of Grand Rapids and she was switched to PH in January. Her son attends Michigan State and her daughter is at Iowa State. Both areas that will not accept PH. Tyler broke his arm and Molly came down with strep in February. By the end of March had she had used almost all of her HSA account monies ($3000). I checked in with her last month to see how PH was winking for her. She said, "It's great insurance as long as you don't get sick." This seems to be Priority Health's motto.
One of my co-workers has a friend who teaches in Grand Rapids. Her district went to PH a couple years ago. They went back to MESSA this past year because after the first year, PH raised the rates so much that it was cheaper to go with MESSA. The problem we face is that when that happens, we, the teachers, will absorb that increase. Our administration and Board won't care. We will be paying MESSA plus prices for bad insurance.
Board of Education team members: Tammy Chapman, Carol Davis, Al Miller, John Severson
Mediator: Jim Corbin
The meeting started out with a delicious dinner provided to all by the middle school. Thank You!
After dinner, we were quite surprised when the Board's team announced they would not sit at the table but wanted to work solely through the mediator. So we could eat together and chit-chat, but when it came time to present their proposal, they couldn't discuss it face-to-face.
They left the room and we were presented with their offer which included:
I A three year contract
II Cash in lieu of insurance $300 a month
III Coaches' Salaries: Rate increases for middle school cross country, swimming, tennis, track, (boys and girls), volleyball (7th and 8th) and wrestling.
IV Band Salary Increases
V Tuition Reimbursement: Agree to raise reimbursement rate from $75 per credit hour to $100.00 per credit hour.
VI Teachers serving breakfast to students in their classrooms will be paid $2.00 additional compensation per day.
The Board also provided three health insurance options though no specific insurances were named in the first two, some were easy to determine.
Option A: Option A was to be be the same deal for both contract years: for July 1, 2011-2012-June 30, 2013
(1) Parties agree to a composite premium of $18,460/yr
Employees to contribute 20% of total benefit preiums
(2) Wages 0% full steps
Employees to earn .25% bonus, off schedule, with "satisfactory" evaluation.
Please note that this was not even an attempt in good faith. Governor Snyder considers 10% of insurance premiums to be "best practice." Thus, this is a "got you" and the Board adds insult to injury by offering 0% to help defray the cost of 20% premiums. Apparently, by not requiring a deductible, the Board though this was a fair deal. It is hard to imagine what they would consider unfair.
Option B: Option B was to be same deal for both contract years: for July 1, 2011-2012 and July 1, 1012-June 30, 2013 (current benefit level with $20/$400 deductible):
(1) Parties agree to a composite premium of $17,772/yr,
Employees to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(2) Wages 1% increase, full steps
Employees to earn .25% bonus, off-schedule, with "satisfactory" evaluation.
Please note that Option B appears to be our proposed MESSA plan, as the numbers match up with the MESSA plan the HCEA Bargaining Team has offered this Board throughout negotiations. Once more remember, Governor Snyder considers 10% of insurance premiums to be "best practice." Thus, this is a "got you" and the Board adds insult to injury by offering 1% to help defray the cost of 20% of premiums. The Board is very aware that a 1% raise will make it impossible for the teachers towards the bottom of the steps to afford the 20% of emloyee contribution. Furthermore, the Board is very aware that new MESSA rates go into effect on July 1, 2011. At that time the membership (if the Board does not settle with us) will be responsible for their $85 monthly premium share plus any increase (as per HB 4152). So, it is to the Board's advantage to not allow us to go to a more affordable MESSA plan. Please be aware that the Association Team has for the last six months consistently offered a lower cost MESSA plan (same benefit level with a $200/$400 annual deductible. Yet, the Board is not interested in the saving rates it provided. The Board's refusal to accept HCEA's offer is further proof that money is not an issue for Harper Creek, but providing teachers with good insurance evidently is an issue. We believe the Board's plan is to scare us (bully us) into Priority, but they underestimate the resolve of HCEA members. We will continue on into Fact Finding and Court Appearances for ULP's (Unfair Labor Practices) if that is what they want. Ironically, the Boar's attorney will make a fortune in Fact Finding and Court.
Option C; (Priority Health, NVA, and, UNUM):
(1) Parties agree to the following premiums:
(a) Single: $4980/yr. Employees to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(b) Two person: $10,885/yr, Employee to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(c) Full Family: $12,588/yr, Employee to contribute 20% of total benefit premiums
(2) Board to place $1,500 single, $3,000 two person (plus) in employee owned Health Savings Account upon implementation.
(3) Wages 4% increase, full steps
Employees to earn .25% bonus, off-schedule, with "satisfactory" evaluation.
Year two of above option is same wages 2% increase on-scale, 2% off-schedule,
Please note that each time we meet with the Board's team, we present them with unsettling news regarding Priority Health. See the examples by clicking the underlined numbers connected to a hyperlink.
# One # Two # Three
The Board has yet to ever acknowledge these warning signals! OUR VOICES ARE BEING IGNORED.
In addition, our research reveals that Priority Health appears a great deal if one is healthy, but one accident consisting of a broken bone on top of a case of strep throat and suddenly one has depleted the $3000 Health Savings Plan for a family of two or more. Thus, it is not surprising the Board has offered a higher wage increase, if you or someone in your famiy has one accident and a normal illness, the wage increase will be needed and most likely it will not be enough.
To add insult to the proposal, the Board once more stated in its proposal, "The designation of MESSA as a carrier must no longer be proposed by the Association."
We responded to the Board's Proposal by choosing the second option and STATED we wanted MESSA and a higher wage increase. The district responded to our counter with a lower salary increase and a request for a cost cap for the 2012-2013 insurance. Due to the late hour (it was after 11:00 P.M.) we were unable to attain a Tentative Agreement, but left the meeting optimistic that one was close as we were only $15,000 apart in total compensation. Thursday we sent a proposal that contained the requested cost cap. In return, we received a proposal where a number of the clauses were completely different from those of the previous proposals. Friday we sent in an amended proposal and were told the board didn't go for it 20 minutes later. However, we discovered Friday afternoon that not all the board was contacted. Once more, we do not consider telling us half truths as good faith bargaining.
Please note the board did not hesitate to pay Ray Davis over $20,000 for teacher negotiations. Yet, the Board could not find the $15,000 needed to settle a three year contract. We find it difficult to understand why the board refuses to settle and pay the teachers of Harper Creek. Who has more contact with students, Ray Davis or the teachers in Harper Creek? The students in Harper Creek will not attain anything for that $20,000.
A budget is a moral agenda. A budget illustrates and illuminates the priorities of the ones who create it. When the Board chooses to budget money for a lawyer to keep us from attaining a contact and refuses to invest in the teachers of the district, then the Board is verbalizing through its actions what it values and holds in high regard. Apparently, it is not its teaches.
So, where do we stand?
1. Our current MESSA rates expire 5/31. With no agreement and current legislation, we will have to pay additional premium cost ourselves beginning in July.
2. The Board keeps moving the target - they say they want something; we figure it out and respond, they counter with something completely different.
3. They know we lose our MESSA rates on the 31st and their strategy is to delay reaching agreement until we do. They think we are more likely to accept Priority Health if faced with increased costs ow.
4. The Board of Education is letting Lansing do its dirty work for them. And Lansing is certainly doing that.
What do we need from you?
1, Tenured teachers-please carefully consider any non-contact work you are performing. If it's voluntary or poorly paid, you could decline the invitation to attend that workshop or participate in that ceremony, or take that training.
2. There is a Board meeting June 13th. Please plan to attend in your hideous yellow shirt.
3. Let a negotiation team member know if you no longer support our current goal which is to maintain MESSA for our members and to attain a raise to sustain any cost increases we incur.
4. Also, please note we have been brainstorming and we will share our ideas/strategies with HCEA members at the various schools over the next few weeks. We have already scheduled several school meeting. SOLIDARITY is crucial at the point in the journey. Unless you tell us otherwise, we will continue to maintain what we have bargained for over numerous contracts. We firmly believe that Lansing is trying to break the MEA. It would be nice if we had a board that supported us like other boards are supporting their teachers across Michigan. However, it is apparent that neither our board nor our superintendent is interested in that role.
PLEASE READ FREDDY'S COMMENTS CAREFULLY as if we as an association are not careful in the choice of insurance, the new motto for members could be: "You are only one accident away from debt or bankruptcy." The Board has not bargained in good faith for an entire year, it is hard to believe they are concerned for our health or the health of our families.
A side note from Cindy Fredenburg:
A couple weeks ago I had an emergency appendectomy at Oaklawn Hospital. I discovered that the employees at Oaklawn had recently switched insurance carriers to Priority Health. I asked each person, from the one who checked me in to the person who wheeled me out 3 days later, "How do you like Priority Health?" Not one person said anything good about PH. One nurse told me about her husband's surgery. By the time they paid all the deductibles for the doctor's visits, tests, surgery, anesthesia, hospital stay and prescriptions, their portion of the bill was over $2000. Another nurse told me she has a child who has to take a particular prescription and the non generic works best for him. The cost has been significantly higher and they had difficulty with the "step therapy" program. PH has a step theory program for prescription "formulas" and the patient has to start with PH's formula and work their way up to a non generic drug. One of the doctors told me to fight hard and hang on to MESSA.
Another friend works for the city of Grand Rapids and she was switched to PH in January. Her son attends Michigan State and her daughter is at Iowa State. Both areas that will not accept PH. Tyler broke his arm and Molly came down with strep in February. By the end of March had she had used almost all of her HSA account monies ($3000). I checked in with her last month to see how PH was winking for her. She said, "It's great insurance as long as you don't get sick." This seems to be Priority Health's motto.
One of my co-workers has a friend who teaches in Grand Rapids. Her district went to PH a couple years ago. They went back to MESSA this past year because after the first year, PH raised the rates so much that it was cheaper to go with MESSA. The problem we face is that when that happens, we, the teachers, will absorb that increase. Our administration and Board won't care. We will be paying MESSA plus prices for bad insurance.
