NOVEMBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015, 1:20 AM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — A state-appointed fact finder in February will try to settle a 10-month contract dispute between the Board of Education and the Ridgewood Education Association, even as the two sides try to hammer out an agreement on their own.
Although there are several points of contention — including possible salary increases — the fight over how much REA members must contribute to their health insurance premiums has taken center stage since negotiations began last February.
The fact finder has scheduled an informal hearing on Feb. 3, when each side will present what it considers pertinent information, officials said. Two-and-a-half months later, the fact finder will issue a non-binding recommendation on how to settle the dispute.
In Ridgewood, union members pay an average of 26 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums, a district spokeswoman said Thursday. This, many members say, is simply too much
“I know I have to pay something, but this an unreasonable burden on my family,” Mariann Gelenius said at the Nov. 2 board meeting. Gelenius, a Child Study Team member at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, said she’s paying about 35 percent of the premium cost, and that’s meant less take-home pay — even after previous salary increases.
REA President Michael Yannone, a 19-year veteran of Ridgewood High School, said Friday that the REA would keep meeting with the board’s negotiating team, but an agreement would depend on the board’s willingness to lower insurance contributions.
“That’s the stumbling block,” Yannone said. “We’re willing to negotiate that — we know that’s going to cost us something, and so we’re willing to pay to get that … but right now the board is holding the line on that issue.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/fact-finder-will-join-teacher-talks-1.1456157
Mariann:
If paying 35% of a medical premium is a burden on your family, think about what a burden the other 65% of the premium is on the taxpayers. Lets not forget as a group you paid zero for decades.
Welcome to the real world!
Taxpayers pay 65% of Marianne’s premim in addition to pur own premiums, and we neither get platinum coverage while we’re working, nor subsidized coverage from retirement until age 65 (the avg TPAF retiree is 62 which means three years of subsidized coverage until Medicare). The REA is just stalling because the longer they delay, the less they pay. Mariann is not paying 35% of her total health benefit premium today unless she’s paying over $8,000 out of pocket for a family plan… More REA lies. Time to face the reality that private sector workers have known for years.
The higher health benefit contributions are state mandated, does Yannone think he and the REA are above the law?
Maybe RHS needs better teachers than Yannone
Too bad, this is life today i have heard teachers say they can make more in the private sector if that is the case i say go for it and see what the real cost actually is.`Time to get over your self importance.
A couple of points:
3:51 – Correct. She is paying well over $8,000 for her health insurance.
Everyone pays toward the compensation for public workers, no matter where they live. Do you think that people who work in Ridgewood and live elsewhere, live in a town whee they pay nothing towards the costs associated with that town?
3:53 – If you read the article you will notice that after the 4 year phase in contributions are negotiatable. THAT is the law.
3:51 is correct, the longer they go without a new contract, the longer they avoid the state mandated, higher contribution amounts which they should have been paying since 2012/13
8:20pm, so you still haven’t explained to the readers that the REA has not yet agreed to ANY of the 4 year phase in contributions, so the 35% contribution amount is not the reality, and Mariann is not currently paying over $8,000 a year out of her own pocket towards family health benefit coverage. Besides, why can’t you answer this: Taxpayers pay 65% of Marianne’s premium in addition to our own premiums, and we neither get platinum coverage while we’re working, nor subsidized coverage from retirement until age 65 (the avg TPAF retiree is 62 which means three years of subsidized coverage until Medicare) – how is that fair to taxpayers? Why is Mariann and the rest of the REA so special ?
Hey 8:20, tell your pals in the REA that if they don’t like the contract, they’re free to leave. We’re happy to replace them with hungry young teachers who WANT to work for the Ridgewood BOE. Maybe you’ve noticed the school rankings aren’t what they once were. The best way to stop resting on our laurels is to clean out the dead wood, starting with Yannone
6:46 – REA didn’t have the option to agree to anything. It is the law. The phase in started with the last contract, and has already reached year 4. Mariann is currently paying out of pocket for health benefits, and I believe the amount for family coverage is in excess of $10,000 a year, not $8,000.
All of us currently pay a percentage of the health benefits of anyone who works for any entity public or private, with which we have a relationship. Marianne is paying towards the health benefits of the workers in the town where she lives. What is your point? Do you believe that everyone should pay 100%, or do you save that wish just for teachers in Ridgewood? Teachers in NJ pay a higher percentage than teachers in 47 other states. Teachers pay a higher percentage on average than workers in the private sector.
Let just reiterate my first point – teachers want the right to negotiate health benefits (as provided by the law), because they are presently paying up to 35% of the cost of health insurance premiums. As long as no new contract is negotiated they will continue to pay at the full levels, so where is the incentive to stall?
So pay for Bronze level benefits like the rest of us. Why are you so special 5:18?
You don’t like it, leave
Exactly 5:28, if Mariann wants Platinum level health benefits, she can pay the extra premium for that priviledge. Taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize her choice, and the BoE is correct to stand their ground against the unreasonable (and expensive) demands of the REA. The average New Jersey public employee is enrolled in a health plan with an “actuarial value” of 95%, meaning that the plan pays approximately 95% of the cost of essential with an average employee contribution of 18% of premium costs. In contrast, while there is some variation, plans offered by large private-sector employers typically fall within a range of 80% to 85% actuarial value, toward which employees typically contribute 24% of premium costs. Why should teachers get better?
Why doesn’t the Ridgewoid BoE just make the teachers buy their own insurance through ACA health exchanges in NJ? Health care benefits are not constitutionally protected in NJ, so this change would hold up in the state Supreme Court and resolve a huge headache (and unlimited future healthcare liability) for both the BoE and Village taxpayers in Ridgewood.