EMU union overwhelmingly votes down contract, puts message in sky: 'President Martin unfair to clericals'
Feeling they weren’t being heard at the negotiating table, the leaders of the Eastern Michigan University clerical union sent a message Tuesday university administrators could not ignore.
Eastern Michigan University clericals and supporters protest contentious contract negotiations on Tuesday outside Welsh Hall in Ypsilanti. A plane carrying a banner reading "President Martin unfair to clericals" flies overhead.
Kellie Woodhouse | AnnArbor.com
As the fifth month of contract negotiations drags on, union leaders organized the plane in a last-ditch effort to make it clear the clericals are dissatisfied with the results.
In the hours that followed the spectacle, the 300-plus member clerical union voted on whether to approve the university's latest offer.
The offer includes a 0-1-2 percent raise scale over three years, health care options that shift some cost to employees —causing workers with families to pay as much as $5,000 a year in health care costs, depending on services sought— and the promise of a 12 percent health care premium increase over the next three years and a $1,250 lump sum payment to employees to mitigate rising costs.
Five members voted for the contract, 182 members voted against it. The union now moves to a 60-day fact-finding process, during which a mediator will make a non-binding suggestion to both parties.
After fact-finding, the university can offer an unchanged, or modified, agreement and the union must accept. Union leaders say whatever the outcome, they will not strike because it is against the law and they fear the large fines that would be imposed.
The main issue of contention is health care offerings. Many clericals —88 percent according to the union— are under health care plans that include no, or low, deductibles or co-insurance rates.
According to a AAUP analysis, under the new plan if a family of four maxes out its required deductibles and co-insurance caps the employee can expect to pay about $3,000 more in health insurance costs a year in 2013. A single individual can expect to pay about $1,000 more.
EMU says it must raise clericals' health care costs to keep up with inflation.
"Health care costs continue to increase for everyone across the nation, this is not an issue singular to Eastern Michigan University. Consistent with national trends, Eastern’s health care costs are projected to increase by 8.5 percent annually," EMU spokesman Geoff Larcom said.
Larcom said the university is seeking a "fair and competitive agreement." Other universities, including the University of Michigan, have also shifted a higher level of health care costs to employees in recent years.
"Funding health care increases without further sharing of costs ... will impact the level of resources available for academics and student success," he added, "and also limit our ability to offer future pay increases and salary growth for employees."
Clerical union President Karen Hanson said that with some employees with families and medical issues, the new contract could possibly result in a severe decrease in take-home pay.
She said the average clerical worker's base salary is $34,000, although they make between $27,000 and about $40,000.
"We have a lot of head of households, they can't afford this," she said. "They will now have to choose between taking their child to the doctor and paying these big out-of-pocket co-pays or buying food. It's coming down to that issue for some of these clericals."
One clerical worker, Erica, said that if the contract remains unchanged she will begin looking for a new job. Erica, who declined to give her last name, said the cost to ensure herself and her four children would grow significantly.
"My kids have asthma," the single mother said. Another clerical with an unhealthy husband said through tears that she feared increased costs, but declined to give her name.
Mike Shumaker, an EMU library clerical worker and lead negotiator for the union, says that administrators have been unwavering in negotiations.
"It’s been contentious. ... We’ve made several proposals to the university, most of which, they didn’t counter. They just said 'we're saying no to this proposal,' " he said. "The first health care plan they proposed to us is the health care plan we voted for today because we never changed it once. No negotiating."
The union was able to negotiate higher raises. The school originally offered no raises during the course of the three year contract, instead of the existing 0-1-2 percent scale.
"We're already the lowest paid bargaining unit, we have the lowest contribution to our retirement and they’re asking us to take a pay cut," Shumaker said.
"People are waiting to see how this all plays out."
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Mick52
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:44 a.m.
I have a question. Do all employees at EMU pay the same premium prices? It is unfair to ask an employee making $27,000 to pay the same premiums an employee making double that. Ditto parking fees and so on. In fact, if you look at single payer systems around the world-which a lot of people suggest we switch to-they fund their HC by taxes and yup, the higher the pay the higher the tax. While I would never promote single payer, it won't work in the US, there are some aspects of it we could look into adopting. I don't see what the split is at EMU, the % EMU pays and the % the employee pays. Typically its 70/30. If after fact finding the union must accept an unmodified agreement, what is the use of a union?
YpsiVeteran
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 7:15 p.m.
How nice the insurance companies in this country have it. They have people so focused on who has what and who should give up what...no one questions exactly WHY "health care costs are projected to increase by 8.5% annually," or why they've spiraled up a couple hundred percent over the last 10 years. Where's the justification for that? We're so conditioned to insurance company thievery, we just accept the fact that they are going to charge more and more and more, no matter what, like we accept that day follows night. The people we have elected to protect our interests, in both parties, have sold us like so much cattle, and we're too stupid to do anything about it but pick at each other and all run in separate directions, like 2,000 zebras running from one lion. We forget that if we were to band together and face the lion as a united group, we could kick the living crap out of him.
Mick52
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.
Why do you suppose health insurance will increase when insurance companies now have to accept people with pre-existing conditions who will be very expensive to cover? Insurance companies are going to have to project those costs and that will require raising all premiums to cover it.
Tom Todd
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:43 a.m.
republicans and the class-warfare slash jealous of there neighbors, voted down.
raccoonlover
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:04 p.m.
Having spent my career as a clerical in "academentia," I know that these positions are not low-level, menial positions. This staff runs the university. If all the administrators disappeared suddenly, and just the profs and clerical "help" remained, all would run smoothly. If the clerical staff disappeared, the workings of the school would come to a screeching halt!! Treat them with the respect they deserve!! The money is ALWAYS there--it's a matter of where it's spent.
Cash
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
academentia? Bwahaha! Good one! I totally agree. I spent my career there as well. The clerical folks did the heavy lifting.....waiting on students, preparing reports, etc....and the administration took credit. That's the way it rolls in higher ed. Those of us who worked there in any capacity, knew it.
Cash
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:08 p.m.
The amount paid for insurance should be percentage based on pay. I'll bet the clerical worker would be glad to pay the same percentage of their income as Pres Martin pays for her insurance.
Mick52
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
That is a key part of single payer health care globally. Single payer will never work here, but there are some aspects of it that should be seriously looked into. And your idea is a big one. Especially at universities where salaries are way out of whack between the uppers and the lowers. I am beginning to think the state needs to put caps on executive pay in public sector jobs because of this. In K-12 schools too. You can find very competent administrators who will fill these jobs at half the pay.
Sparty
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
Is that how car insurance works? Is it percentage based on pay or is based on what it costs?
MRunner73
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.
The irony is that EMU President Martin started her career as a clerical, as she stated at a recent function on the campus.
Greg
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
Rather starnge as there is and has never been a shortage of money for those at the top. Somehow a lack of funds always comes up when the peons are at the table, but when it is the administrators, it is a different story.
a2huron
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
I'll drink to that.
dexterreader
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.
After leaving the public education sector a few years back, I can say without a doubt, that the days of "no employee contributions" to health care premiums are long gone. Employees in public education across the board are being required to contribute more and more to their health care options. The last 5 years I was employed, I went backward further each year. Not only did we not receive pay raises, but the days were coming when insurance premiums would also be tacked on to our pay. It's rough everywhere. To the person who plans to seek a position elsewhere .... good luck with that plan. If you find someplace that gives you totally "free" health insurance, please let me know so I can apply there also.
Plubius
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
Fire those ungrateful clerks and hire some (non-union) people who understand that this is a job, not a handout.
Gordon
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
The single Mom with 4 kids and others with chronic health issues might seek alternative medicine help. When my chronic URI and asthma turned serious, I sought certified homeopathic practicioners. Sure thankful it worked, as the word "chronic" is no longer the threat it once was. Now to find a major medical policy that covers most of the expensive MD treatments.
sneekysneaky
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.
True that health care is going up but it should be distributed fairly across all employee groups. The higher paid staff and faculty should agree to pay more in order to reduce the impact on the lower salary groups. Why should the person making over $200,000 pay the same premium for the health benefit as the person making $25,000? Sounds like ObamaCare at the local level but it should be well tolerated in a liberal establishment.
angangang
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
Not really sure how you can compare this to Obamacare...
Rabid Wolverine
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
Um, no. Why should those who make more have to pay more to offset costs for those who have chosen a field of work which doesn't pay as well? Equal cost no matter the income level for equal benefits.
Pickforddick
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.
Send a bottle of Scotch to the top.....it may help.
Martin Church
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
I have a better one. EMU Clericals are unfair to students and taxpayers. if you don't like the options given come join the rest of us in the real world. Private companies are making us also pay more for health care and the cost will only go up with the new affordable health care tax.
northside
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
Let's drag everyone to the bottom - that's the spirit!
Tom Todd
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 10:44 a.m.
time for those at the top to sacrifice some pay and benefits not just those at the lower middle class level.
Wake Up A2
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 10:10 a.m.
All this and it still costs 20% more then 5 years ago to send your kids here.......
Goober
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 7:03 p.m.
No one has yet to validate all of the increases. The same holds true for the cost of health care. The cost goes up because of a lack of competition. Almost makes you feel like this is the gasoline market. Magically, every station increases the amount of their gas at the same moment and same price.