GIC Could Have Been Boon for City12-05-2008
To the Editor:
As a North Adams resident and employee, I write to express my concern about the mayor's costly behavior regarding health insurance. I am president of the North Adams Police Association, MCOP Local 382, AFL-CIO, which voted unanimously to bargain with Mayor John Barrett III to join the state's Group Insurance Commission.
Our association is one of several unions of city employees that voted to form a health insurance coalition, known as a Public Employee Committee, to discuss health insurance options with the city. This committee represents a majority of city employees. The entire committee supports bargaining to join the GIC. Not one retiree or non-union employee has voiced any objection to obtaining quality health insurance at 25 percent lower premiums. As a matter of fact, the only employee I heard object to saving $1.5 million was Mayor Barrett.
Because Mayor Barrett refused to bargain with the committee, North Adams missed the Dec. 1, 2008, deadline to join the GIC. This non-action by the mayor ended the chance for retirees, employees and taxpayers to save money. As a result, we are forced to pay even higher health insurance rates come July 1, 2009, when the city's insurer is expected to hike rates considerably. Instead of health insurance being a great boon for all of North Adams, we get a bust because of one person.
Brian Kelly
President, North Adams Police Association, MCOP Local 382, AFL-CIO
Dec. 5, 2008 |
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