HPAE files complaint against HRH for allegedly trying to double insurance premiums
Taken from the Hudson County View
By John Heinis
December 10, 2024
“We were told that since we have so many employees with chronic illnesses, our premium has to go up. We need to see what we can do better for our staff,” HPAE Local 5147 President Emer Frani said on a Zoom call today.
While that conversation between HRH and union leadership, respectively, began months ago, employees did not hear anything further until about three weeks ago when open enrollment for health insurance began.
At that time, hospital staffers were told they were unilaterally being switched from Aetna to Cigna. Under the current (Aetna) plan, Frani said a healthcare plan for him and his wife cost $145 per paycheck, and under the new plan (Cigna), it would be $311 per paycheck.
“When we’re talking about people who barely make $20 an hour and have to pay $400 a month, that’s not a drop in the bucket … people can’t swallow that,” he asserted.
“They keep saying the money’s not there, but meanwhile they want to partner, rescue CarePoint Health. Here we are during this time of year it’s supposed to be about family cheer, being together. Something needs to be done, something needs to change.”
The complaint, filed with the NLRB on Friday, says HRH informed HPAE members of the insurance switch on November 29th, which goes against their union contract.
“This increase is in direct violation of the collective bargaining agreement, which provides ‘[e]mployees’ payroll contributions in effect on the date of ratification of this agreement shall not change during the term of this agreement,’” the complaint says.
“The CBA’s effective dates: January 2024-December 2026. The Employer’s actions are in complete disregard of the CBA, in violation of the Act.”
HPAE President Debbie White was also on the call and explained why this is a serious issue from a procedural standpoint.
“It’s a one-sided change from the employer that puts the burden of paying healthcare back on the employee, so we filed both a grievance and a charge against them since this is a unilateral change: They haven’t bargained with us … They just came to local that said we have to make these changes because we have to save money,” she explained.
While the issue is currently exclusive to HRH in Secaucus, employees at the Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital in Jersey City, and the Hoboken University Medical Center have been wearing “Honor our contract now!” stickers.
Those three hospitals are currently part of a deal that would include HRH to form Hudson Health System, and while HRH announced they officially took over the Bayonne Medical Center late last month, they have a certificate of need hearing on Thursday.
That will be before the New Jersey Department of Health in Trenton.
“I think their delay tactics are speaking for themselves especially when people are showing up at our hospitals claiming to be administrators … This CarePoint system, these people [employees] have not only been through a pandemic, but also multiple bankruptcies,” White added.
“Hudson Regional really isn’t looking like that shiny savior that they’re portraying themselves to be when they’re not taking into consideration their unions and their union contracts.”
She further stated that while a NLRB can take many months, with no timeline available at this time, the HPAE’s hope is that they can make an impact on Thursday’s hearing at the state.
HRH did not immediately return an email seeking comment.