August 1,2002

Dear Colleagues:

Last night, the Legislature voted to override the acting governor's veto of the monies needed to keep group health insurance premiums at 85% paid by the state and 15% paid by current employees (and 90% paid by the state and10% paid by retirees).

This victory is bittersweet, given that signed higher education contracts, including those for U-Mass faculty and staff and state college administrators and staff, were not allowed to be considered for an override vote despite enormous support by rank and file legislators.

Given the ongoing budget crisis, the preservation of the helath insurance benefit will require constant vigilance on our part. The acting governor submitted legislation proposing a three-tiered system, based on salary, for health insurance premium payments, which would require about 30% of our membership to pay 20% of their premiums and the remaining members to pay 25%.

The failure of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to honor its commitments to our colleagues at the bargaining table is unconscionable. This unprecedented action by the acting governor and the House Speaker bodes badly for the MSCA as we enter negotiations for both of our bargaining units in January, 2003.

I want to thank members who heeded the call for telephone calls, emails, letters and visits to legislators in support of preserving 85/15 and funding the contracts. I especially want to thank the MTA government relations and higher education staff members who worked unrelentingly for a week to secure benefits and funding that never should have been in jeopardy. Their constant communications with the higher education affiliate presidents allowed us to keep you, the membership, informed and involved.

Pat Markunas
MSCA President

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