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Daily DigestYuck!
 There's a winter storm warning in effect until 7 a.m. on Thursday with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected. Be prepared for a messy morning commute as freezing rain and sleet move through the region. The morning commute will be slippery — drive careful!
Some New York schools, including Hoosick Falls Central School and St. Mary's Academy in Hoosick Falls have already canceled classes.
All North County schools are closed; Pittsfield, Lanesborough, Berkshire Hills, Southern Berkshire and Central Berkshire school districts are closed. |
Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
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MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us. |
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 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
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North Adams Unions File Complaints Against CityBy Tammy Daniels - November 17, 2008
iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's seven unions have filed complaints with the state's Division of Labor Relations after their attempts to negotiate entrance into the Group Insurance Commission was rebuffed.
Union officials say the city's "unilateral" attempt to offer different insurance options is also in violation of state law.
"We've been trying to get the mayor and the city to talk about insurance since last March," said Christopher Caproni, president of the North Adams Teachers Association, the city's largest union. "We're very willing to sit down and look at plans together. ... But [the city] can't just unilaterally add them."
Mayor John Barrett III said he could not comment on grievances filed against the city but said the unions' actions were unhelpful.
"What they are doing and what they have done has irreparably harmed their relationship with the city administration and the School Committee," said Barrett.
The seven unions are filing the prohibitive practice charges separately; Caproni was not sure if all seven had been filed by Monday.
The two sides have been at loggerheads over the unions' desire to join the GIC, an option offered to governing bodies across the state as part of the Municipal Partnership Act. The GIC covers nearly 300,000 state employees and retirees; it was opened to municipalities as an option for saving money on health plans.
The unions say joining the GIC would save the city more than $1 million; the mayor has been extremely skeptical over the savings claims and warns retirees would be hurt by transferring insurance carriers.
Section 19
The unions went to the City Council this past summer to request it adopt the state law (Section 19) that would allow all seven unions to negotiate as a single unit on health care, a requirement of the partnership act. Union officials hoped to beat the October deadline to register for next year's enrollment. That deadline has since been moved to Dec. 1.
Councilors were intrigued by the potential savings but wary of trespassing on the mayor's turf by interfering with the bargaining process. Barrett, in turn, said the city's counsel was concerned that by adopting the measure, the city would be forced into negotiations.
Undeterred, the seven unions covering educators and education staff, police, firefighters, public works employees and custodians have joined forces as the North Adams Public Employee Committee in anticipation of GIC negotiations.
"We have seven labor unions sitting at the same table all in agreement that something has to be done about insurance, said Caproni. "It needs to be done collaboratively. These employees have some of the highest co-pays in the state and the highest splits in the county."
Barrett countered that the city had put a "very, very fair" offer on the table only to have the unions walk away.
"I don't think [union members] realize that they're not going to have Blue Cross Blue Shield if they join GIC," he said, adding that abandoning the city's self-insured plan would mean locking into GIC for three years — with no way out if the purported savings fail to materialize.
The unions also want to raise the city's split from 70 percent to 85 percent of the premiums, said Barrett.
High Premiums
In response to complaints about the high cost of premiums, the city has offered open enrollment for several new options with lower premiums and higher deductibles. Caproni said that was a prohibitive practice.
"All changes or implementation under Massachusetts law are bargainable," he said. "We're very willing to sit down and look at plans together. ... They can't just unilaterally add them in."
"In these tough financial times it's more important than ever that we give people the best value for their money,” said Peter Robare, president of the IAFF, Local 1781, in a statement.
Pittsfield recently negotiated with its unions to enroll in the GIC next year. Last year, the first year for enrollment, only 12 governing bodies (mostly school districts) signed on.
The prohibitive practice charges are being filed by all the unions that constitute the NAPEC. They include the North Adams Teachers Association; the North Adams Paraprofessionals; the North Adams Police Association, Local 382; IAFF, Local 1781 representing North Adams Fire Fighters; Teamsters Local 404 representing employees of the Department of Public Works; the North Adams Teachers Assistants Association; and AFL-CIO 204 State Council 93, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees/City of North Adams.
Edited on Nov. 18 to correct a phrase that was misheard. |
From what I've heard, an insurance audit was conducted and it was determined that the city would save more than $1,000,000.00 by joining the GIC. Who, in their right mind, would oppose that kind of savings for the city? It doesn't matter what you think of the unions, the city would still be saving that money!
You noticed that the mayor was quoted as saying he was "skeptical" of this kind of savings. He really doesn't sound convinced that he is correct. Does he? | | from: What? | on: 11-19-2008 |
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| Their split is not bad . .come out here in the real world and work! Splits are often 50/50. Most districts & towns are 75/25 & Southwick-Tolland School Dist is 50/50. They don't say what their co-pay is . . so who knows if it is really high? Many plans pay $20 to 25. Boo Hoo the world doesn't owe you. . . | | from: btdt | on: 11-19-2008 |
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| I'm in the private sector and we were asked to take a pay cut and they no longer will cover my wife on health insurance unless I pay the full boat. These public sector unions are the ones who should realize the economy is in transition. If I had my way they would get nothing! | | from: Bob G. | on: 11-18-2008 |
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Why is it okay for the mayor to do things the way he wants too. The unions, and city people want things done fairly, legally, and right. Is that so bad? If the GIC is so awful why is the college employees and state workers on it. I am tired of being bullied! I want to make a decent living, raise my family in a safe city, and be happy. Is that so bad.
I wonder how many people in North Adams have a family member in a city union? So how many families are being effected by high insurance costs? TOO MANY!! | | from: caring | on: 11-18-2008 |
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| Unions only want great deals that will help them and not the city. | | from: give me a break | on: 11-18-2008 |
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| Fair deal to a union and fair deal to the non-union business world are two very different things so no, I wouldn't ASSUME the union would accept a fair deal. | | from: Becky C | on: 11-18-2008 |
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"What they are doing and what they have done has critically injured their relationship with the city administration and the School Committee," said Barrett.
The unions have not failed to provide services to the citizens or the students. How exactly have they injured relationships?
A fair deal? Wouldn't the unions have taken the deal if it was fair?
Great job unions, glad to see someone is facing the mayor in his negligence and stubborness. North Adams is in trasition and this man doesn't get it.
We should change the city charter and take away the full mayoral power.
| | from: bravo | on: 11-18-2008 |
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