Union says health care premiums put UVM raise below cost-of-living increase

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HEALTH CARE COSTS: The sharply rising cost of health care premiums is putting labor relations at the University of Vermont to the test.

Editor’s note: This article was updated 2:03 p.m. Thursday.

BURLINGTON, Vt. — According to United Academics, a union that represents University of Vermont faculty, labor contract negotiations are approaching the mediation stage, and a health care premium increase of almost 6 percent is a primary point of contention.

“A 5.8 percent hike in premiums means about 20 percent of the proposed 2 percent raise will go to cover health care increases, leaving our net raise under cost of living increases,” union president Tom Streeter said in a statement.

“For many faculty, it will mean no raise at all,” he added.

A recent op-ed by UVM history professor Felicia Kornbluh laid out the crux of the conflict from the perspective of faculty.

“For some lecturers and other faculty making less than $50,000 per year, the administration’s most recent financial proposal would actually result in a diminution of total compensation in this academic year, once the effects of the small wage increase and substantial health care premium increase are combined,” Kornbluh wrote.

“One principle of United Academics’ bargaining has been — and remains — that the union will not accept a package of salary and health care changes that results in any member experiencing a decrease in compensation.”

Streeter, a sociology professor, was hired in 1989. He told True North the university was in a similar predicament more than two decades ago.

“The effect in the 1990s on campus was enervating,” Streeter said. “Young faculty often left, and those who stayed behind felt little motivation to throw themselves into their jobs. It wasn’t just that there was no financial incentive, it was that the administration’s attitude told us that nobody cared about our work.”

Streeter suggested that a sub-inflation raise will hurt the university’s competitiveness and ranking. He noted national studies indicate that UVM is only spending $1 out of every $3 on research and instruction.

“The University has the resources to provide competitive salaries but unfortunately has other priorities,” Streeter said. “Union members are fighting to keep the university’s reputation intact and are prepared to speak up and bargain resolutely.”

Streeter suggested UVM could afford fair salaries by bringing non-instructional spending on par with its peer universities.

Kornbluh notes that a recent independent audit of UVM’s finances included a statement “that the university remains in very good financial condition and is likely to remain in very good financial condition for the foreseeable future.”

Administration spokesperson Enrique Corredera spoke to True North about the challenges of providing competitive salary and benefits while facing rising health care costs.

“UVM has a longstanding commitment to providing high quality health care coverage at a reasonable cost to its employees and retirees. Honoring this commitment requires that we conduct an annual review and analysis of our health care plans, and make adjustments as necessary,” Corredera said.

“This review assesses many factors such as claims experience, trends, specialty drugs, technology, and the demographics of the employees, retirees and dependents covered by the plan. Based on this year’s review and analysis, the rate increase for our medical plans will be 5.8 percent, effective January 1, 2018.”

He added that it’s important to note that the share of the cost increase will apply to each employee on an income-sensitive basis. The table found at this link illustrates the cost shares per income level.

According to Corredera, an employee on a single-person insurance plan will see a $10.64 monthly increase in premium costs, from $183.51 to $194.15. For an employee plus spouse and children, the monthly cost goes up $30.71, from $529.44 to $560.15. The increases would apply to any faculty member making $90,252, the average salary for all non-medical faculty.

Rising premiums are a statewide matter impacting all levels of academia. As reported in the Burlington Free Press:

The Vermont Education Health Initiative, the nonprofit organization that offers health plans for virtually all school employees in the state, announced the proposed monthly premiums for four health insurance plans on Friday. The increases range from 6.4 percent to 17.2 percent and must be approved by the state Department of Financial Regulation.

The union is holding a rally at noon on Nov. 2 at UVM. The first mediation session is scheduled for the same day.

Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North Reports. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Jared C. Benedict/CC BY-SA 2.0

6 thoughts on “Union says health care premiums put UVM raise below cost-of-living increase

  1. Their share of the premium is about half of what I pay for Medicare Part B and a Medicare Supplement both of which are needed to be really insured. What unfortunate creatures.

  2. Silver plans going up 50% for next year in VT. The health insurance for teachers,cops,firemen,dpw,and administrative staff is around $40,000 per year for family coverage.That’s right,we have to pay for their family’s health care too.Included in the health insurance is gender re-assignment surgery,as well as coverage for “partners” for the gay community.All this on the shoulders of working people that could never hope for such coverage.The civil servants still want more money in their paychecks.They act as if the insurance coverage they receive is a given and doesn’t really count for compensation.

    How long can this continue?

  3. It’s incredibly difficult to have any sympathy for these coddled crybabies as I watch our Congress continually vote to increase the health care costs of veterans.

  4. Did not the educational community vote overwhelmingly for Mr. Obama? It is hard to see any sympathy out there for the plight of unionized UVM employees.

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