On July 27, Aug.19 and Sept. 3, NJEA members gathered for meetings of the School Employees’ Health Benefits Commission. At the first two meetings, members gave public comment to the commissioners regarding how the proposed insurance premium rate increases of nearly 35 percent would affect them, their families and the school communities in which they work. At the September 3 meeting, management representatives on the Commission voted against allowing public comment in a futile attempt to silence the voices of NJEA members.
At each of the three meetings, the commissioners deadlocked 4-4 on the vote to approve the rates, with the three commissioners selected by NJEA as well as the one selected by AFL-CIO refusing to approve the exorbitant rates until the Department of Treasury exhausts all options to reduce them. So far, Treasury has refused to bring ideas for immediate cost savings to the table or engage meaningfully with the cost-saving proposals that labor has presented.
On July 27, NJEA President Steve Beatty advocated for legislation that would create a Labor Management Trust to oversee school employees’ healthcare plans, noting that the current crisis is unsustainable for members.
“That is why we believe the Legislature must act on S4438/A5285. This legislation would create a new governance structure that gives employers and employees — the people who pay for, depend upon and have the greatest stake in the success of the program — a stronger role in managing school employee health benefits.”
The Commission will have another meeting on Sept. 28, after this magazine goes to press but before it is delivered. Please check the NJEA website for information about the outcome of that meeting and future actions to protect affordable health care for NJEA members.