LCCAA, union at odds over health care

Health care benefits are part of a dispute between the Lorain County Community Action Agency and SEIU District 1199, the union representing employees.

The Community Action Agency and the union were in negotiations May 12 and ended talks without an agreement.

No future talks are scheduled.

The current contract had a mutually agreed upon medical reopener clause for 2020 benefits and the two sides began negotiations in January on a range of issues.

“Unfortunately, we have not come to an agreement,” said Jackie Boehnlein, president and CEO of the Lorain County Community Action Agency. “Discussions at this point have been exhausted and we consider ourselves at the end of the rope.”

However, Boehnlein is questioning the union’s characterization of events, calling it inaccurate to suggest the agency is forcing health care premiums to rise.

“Our insurance provider gave us an increase in premium, so our employees will see an increase in the cost of our premium, but that’s not because of changes that we’ve made,” she said.

In a May 11 news release, the union representing Community Action Agency employees accused Boehnlein of directing increases to health care premiums and suggesting a profit motive behind the decision.

“No matter what you look like, where you live or how much money you have, when you’re sick, getting care without going bankrupt to do it is everyone’s first priority,” said Kathryn Ramsey, a union leader and family service worker who has worked at Community Action Agency for more than 25 years. “But for too long, we’ve let a powerful few divide us to pad their own profits by making life and health a product for sale.

“We must rewrite the rules to ensure everyone can access the care that we need.”

The union added it has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National

Labor Relations Board.

Boehnlein said in the course of negotiations, the nonprofit organization has worked to balance the needs of employees and its mission in serving Lorain County families.

“I have to find a balance because I don’t want to cut services to the people that we serve,” she said. “And on the same point, our employees are hard-working and they’re valued and trying to find that balance is not an easy thing to do.”

With premiums set to rise 10 percent, Boehnlein said the increase to premiums is going to hit everyone at the agency.

“Through this whole process, I have been very aware of the work our employees do at the agency,” she said. “For that reason, we did not change their contribution levels this year.

“We did not do that. That is out of respect ... we understand that medical benefits are important to our employees. So, the fact that we couldn’t reach an agreement is truly unfortunate, but it’s really not from a lack of each side listening to each other.

“And both sides were very, very concerned about our employees. We just did not get to the point of agreement.”

The union goes on to say in the release that changes proposed by the Community Action Agency will require employees to pay a substantial amount more for the health insurance premiums at the same time slashing employer-provided Health Savings Accounts contributions almost in half.

Local 1199 suggested Boehnlein was attempting to force the changes instead of working through the collective bargaining process.

“We are all better off when we are all healthy — especially the most vulnerable among us,” Ramsey said. “Any one person’s wellness depends on everyone else’s.

“Whether it’s people with chronic health conditions or people without shelter, our undocumented neighbors or people living in detention, people providing vital services or those who can’t forgo a paycheck to stay home, we must ensure all of us can access the care we need and have the support required to make the best choices for everyone’s health.”