HPAE Local 5089 – bargaining, health Insurance and ways to get involved
Healthcare Open Enrollment Deadline Approaching
While the HPAE bargaining teams push Rutgers to cap any healthcare costs to members through negotiations, the deadline for open enrollment is approaching. Here is more information to use as you select the most appropriate plan for yourself and your family’s needs before the October 31 deadline.
Contribution Calculator: https://www.horizonblue.com/shbp/2023-open-enrollment/2023-premium-contribution-calculator
Health Plan Comparison: https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/documents/hb/oe2023/2023-shbp-state-overview.pdf
Prescription Plan Comparison Chart: https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/documents/hb/oe2023/ha0895.pdf
Taken together, you can compare the costs (payroll deductions/copays/deductibles) and the benefits to better make an informed choice for your own health plan needs between now and October 31. If you take no action, then your current selections will continue for 2023.
One note on the Calculator link, which wasn’t designed by the State and Horizon to represent that Rutgers employees still have access to all plan options (so you may want to have a pencil and paper on hand):
Select “State All Other” under the “Employee Type” tab to get your projected costs for the Direct 15, 1525, 2030 or 2035 PPO plans; the HD1500 or HD 4000; or the HMO plan. Jot any relevant numbers down.
Select “State Union Negotiated” under the “Employee Type” tab to get your projected costs for the new PPO plan NJ Direct/NJ Direct 2019 and the Omnia tiered network plan. The Direct 15, 1525, 2030 or 2035 PPO plans will not show up on this screen once you click through. If you compare the figures to those on the previous screen, you’ll see that NJ Direct and Omnia are significantly lower on the “State Union Negotiated” screen.
Next, compare the plan co-pays and the prescription costs at the other two links.
At this time, the rate increase of 18% plus is still set to go into effect on January 1, 2023. Our unions are working to lower that amount, but we can’t guarantee that we’ll be successful. We have also asked for an extension of the open enrollment period but no response yet. To be sure that you are covered under the plan you want, investigate the options and if making a change to your plan, make your selections before the October 31 deadline.
October 27, 2022, and we still do not have a contract
HPAE Local 5089 arrived on 10/20 prepared to bargain with Rutgers University. Our contract expired July 1, 2022. However, management is stalling on providing nurses with a wage proposal – since August of 2022! If you are receiving this email, you have not yet supported your bargaining team by signing the petition below.
Show solidarity with your negotiations team and sign here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/hpae-5089-and-5094-at-rutgers-university-we-call-on-rutgers-to-bargain-with-us-in-good-faith/
HPAE Members Stand United for Preservation of Our Work!
HPAE Local 5094 and Local 5089 Members were joined by allies across the Coalition of Rutgers Unions (CRU) at a mid-day rally in front of CINJ in New Brunswick on October 11. We rallied in support of the Union’s efforts to stop Rutgers’ union busting subcontracting of union work. With the backing of the New Jersey AFL-CIO, the NJ AFT, and prominent elected leaders including Senator Linda Greenstein, our membership understands what’s at stake. As Rutgers drags its feet in providing information even after PERC cited the University over failing to deliver legally required information to the Union. Our membership stands united as we call on Rutgers to stop the ongoing subcontracting of our work to Barnabas and sign the preservation of work agreement with our team in negotiations.
See press about the action here:
Get Involved: Join the Upcoming Contract Action Team Meeting on November 9 via Zoom at noon and 6:30pm.
Want to win a strong contract with Rutgers? Want to be informed and make sure coworkers know the latest from the bargaining table? Want to connect with union-strong coworkers who, like you, understand it will take all of us coming together to win a contract we will be proud to enforce? Then consider joining the HPAE Contract Action Team. The HPAE Contract Action Team, or CAT is a robust effort from across the membership to engage as many coworkers in our contract campaign as possible. Joining CAT is a fun and engaging way to win for everyone and the committee is open to new members. Meetings are held monthly via zoom and organizers are available to support your success even if you can’t make the meeting. Participate in campaign planning conversations. Work with fellow committee members to bring the maximum amount of worker power together on the issues you identified as union priorities. Be in the know and shape the road ahead.
To join, sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelpus16-lRNw9G80mfjL0y_syfY_SgtDqTfEYjG9wsVavCQw/viewform
It’s Election Season, Join a Union Phonebank or Labor Walk in your Area
Working in the public sector makes Get Out The Vote efforts particularly resonant. Click here to see more information about ways to get involved this election season through our Union. Remember to Vote! https://www.hpae.org/campaigns/election-center-2022/