Springfield teachers challenge changes in health benefits

The Massachusetts Teachers Association today filed unfair labor practice charges on behalf of the Springfield Education Association, contending that the Springfield Finance Control Board has engaged in bad faith bargaining by announcing significant and unilateral changes in health insurance benefits for teachers while the parties are actively engaged in bargaining over this and other contract issues.

In a letter timed to arrive the day before Christmas, the Control Board informed employees and retirees that new deductibles and coinsurance payments will be imposed that could result in maximum out-of-pocket increases of $1,000 per person, or $2,000 per family, for in-network medical care each year.

Teachers and other SEA members are continuing to work without a contract, and have not received a raise since March 2002, or even their step increases since August 2003.

"This is a cruel and insensitive way to send employees off for the holidays," said Tim Collins, president of the SEA. "By trying to wring more money out of employees, the Control Board is going to drive more good teachers out of the system and hurt the quality of education in our schools – and they know it.

"They know that teacher morale is plummeting. They know that excellent teachers are leaving in droves for neighboring school systems. They know that, despite adverse conditions, Springfield teachers continue to give their all for their students, often spending hundreds of dollars of their own money for learning materials that the system doesn't provide. And they know that some school department employees have even taken voluntary furloughs, at great personal expense, to help the city out during this fiscal crisis."Unfortunately," Collins concluded, "the Control Board's response has been a continuing attempt to solve the fiscal crisis on the backs of municipal employees."

The Control Board notified municipal unions on November 24 that it was intending to make changes in the health insurance plan, but the board stated its willingness to continue bargaining with the SEA and other municipal unions around that issue. Then, with no further warning, the board sent employees the letter dated Dec. 21, 2004, stating that the changes will be imposed effective April 1, 2005. The complaint, filed with the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, contends that the Control Board has no right to make unilateral changes in the health plan. In addition, the complaint contends that the Control Board has unlawfully undermined the union's role as the bargaining representative of employees by contacting them directly about changes in health insurance while the parties are negotiating over that issue.

Under the Control Board's plan, employees who participate in one of the city's health insurance plans will face a new deductible of $250 per person and $500 per family for in- network medical care, and $500 per member and $1,000 per family for out-of-network care. Currently, employees pay no deductible for in-network care, and lower deductibles for out of network care. The new plan also imposes new coinsurance and co-payment charges.

Media Release, December 29, 2004