UW Bargaining Update: 4/29/09

UW Bargaining Update: 4/29/09

UW Bargaining Update: 4/29/09

The news from Olympia on healthcare costs is mixed. While we’ve been able to maintain our 12% Employee/88% Employer split in premium costs, the state’s cost calculation underfunds the true costs of healthcare insurance. That means that the Health Care Authority (the agency that manages our healthcare) will go back to the drawing board to make up the money not supplied by the state—potentially resulting in higher co-pays or other deductions.

Next week the healthcare supercoalition (all state employee unions) will meet with the Health Care Authority (HCA) to hear their plans for making up the costs and let HCA hear the voices of state employees as they consider their options. So, be prepared! We may need to take action to push back on the increases.

In the meantime, we are back at the table with the University, working to get our contracts in order and ratified before expiration on June 30, 2009. We’ve had two short sessions, and are making some progress on safety nets around layoff and rehire. And,we are working to set the stage for our next contract negotiations, so that we have a jump-start on the wages we missed this contract due of the global economic crisis.

Your Bargaining Team
Jeaneen Bougard
Jody Bundrock
Lois Egan
Christine Lakey
Anne Lawson
Dornie MacKenzie
Ron Maxell
Jose Mayorga
Tom Small
Kathy Thomason