PAJARO VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MINUTES
October 4, 2004

Carolyn explained the process that has been used in the past for communication from the Benefit Committee to the union. Benefits Committee makes recommendations to Executive Council that gives direction to the Negotiations Team. If Negotiations Team reaches an agreement with the district, they sign a Tentative Agreement. Then the TA goes to the membership for a vote. (Any changes you see on your check need to be questioned because NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN AGREED TO.)

The district has made a proposal of benefit changes to balance the budget. We are still negotiating. The district would have to go through a process before they could impose these changes by going to impasse and fact finding.

Negotiating Team: Michael Hillyer, adult ed; George Lerek, special ed.; Carmen Gagne, chief negotiator, elementary; Margie Jennings, middle school; Peggy Pughe, high school; Joe Manildi, high school.

Lowell Hurst, Carolyn Savino and Bruce Glass are members of Fringe Benefit Committee. Lowell, a member for 17 years, outlined the role of the Committee. The committee meets with dist reps, PVAM and CSEA and watches the costs of medical usage. Keenan and Associates serve as consultants and advise us where to look to cut costs. Increased costs were projected to be about 15% for this year. Benefits Committee recommended certain changes to the Executive Council which brought it forward to the Neg. Team.

Bruce Glass says they hear from the consultants and consult actuarial tables. In the attempt to hold down costs, the committee looks at ongoing costs in certain areas of plan.. Prescription cards weren't saving money. It was recommended that PVFT go to $5/$10/$25 with $5 for generic, $15 for formulary drugs, and $25 for nonformulary. Chiropractic claims are out of control. Chiropractic Health Plan of California made a presentation. They would monitor chiropractors. Earlier we placed limit of 24 visits. Changes proposed would include a $10 co-pay. Visits would be limited to the medical diagnosis as determined by the chiropractor. Chiropractor would receive payment of $37.50 per visit..

Acupuncture is another uncontrolled cost. While only 4% of covered people use it, the district pays out $50,000 to $70,000 per year in premiums. Acupuncture users loudly opposed discontinuing coverage as it works when other treatments don't.

Carolyn Savino informed us that the District must prove to S.C. County that PVUSD can balance budget for this year and next two yeasr. PVUSD Trustees imposed a 5% cap on benefits last May. This would put the pressure on teachers to pay the extra costs. Every 5% increase of our benefits equals $1,000,000. The PVUSD Trustees balanced the district budget on a negotiable item. The budget committee did not do this.

Carmen Gagne assures that the negotiation team is working hard to maintain benefits. . Classified has ratified their part of the benefits changes and management has had it imposed on them. We are comparing our budgets to other districts. We know that many classified and certificated employees come to our district for the benefits. We are still pushing to find other money in the budget. We want closer ties to the Benefits Committee so the district doesn't take BC recommendations as if they were negotiated items.

George Lerek reiterates that despite the language on the proposals (i.e., "acupuncture coverage will be deleted," nothing has changed. NT is aware of limited list of Acupuncturists and is looking for other ways to provide acupuncture.

If costs were spread to employees without making any other changes, the monthly co-pay for premiums would be singles: $0 to $48; employee plus one increase $56 to $96; families $90 to $120 based on July figures. Changes in these co-pays would now have to be adjusted higher as four months of this fiscal year have already gone by.

We still have the best value-per-dollar of any plan around.

Joe Manildi says that the District wants us to take their benefits proposals so that they can take this balanced budget to the county. With this piece, they could balance the budget, but PVFT negotiators are not settling. Joe suggests looking for ed-data.com for information on other districts.

There was a suggestion of a cost cap per person like we have for our dental plan be imposed for acupuncture.

Question about what will happen if membership votes down any proposal. District can impose their last best offer if they declare impasse and end negotiations. PVFT negotiators are still moving. In that case, teachers would do informational picketing and working to the rule. 89% of respondents (over 400) to the Negotiations Team Survey do not want to pay more for benefits or lose any benefits.

The district's assumption of balancing the budget on the benefits issue is unethical, but is it illegal? If they impose it, it is illegal.

What is the district offering in return for the benefit changes? Nothing currently.

Emergency surgeries when the doctor is not a Foundation Doctor have become an issue. Some members had this experience where the payment from the insurance was not accepted as payment in full and the uncovered bills are large. Carolyn Savino has taken this issue to Keenan. They are working on modifying the plan and an appeal process.