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Daily DigestMercury Spill
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Duff'em If You've Got'em
 North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it. |
Meetings
The Drury High School Council meets Tuesday, Jan 13, at 6:30 in the conference room. Agenda items include AYP, school grant, laptop initiative and PowerSchool updates. |
Wanted: Eagle Eyes
 MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
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Work at the State House
Sen. Benjamin Downing is looking for college-level interns to assist at his State House office this semester. Send your resume and cover letter to Bethann Steiner, chief of staff, Office of Sen. Benjamin Downing, State House, Room 413-F, Boston, MA 02133. |
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Obama TransitionOther StuffMars Rovers Mark 5 Years
 Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24. |
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N.A. Unions to Protest City's Insurance DecisionStaff reports - November 30, 2008
iBerkshires
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city's unionized workers are taking to the streets on Monday evening in protest of North Adams' decision not to join the state's health insurance program.
The public employees plan to rally in front of City Hall at 4 p.m., marking the deadline for the city to enroll for the next fiscal year.
The city's seven unions, including the police, firefighters and the teachers, say joining the Group Insurance Commission would save the city more than $1 million a year and relieve their members of onerous premiums. Mayor John Barrett III has been skeptical of the savings, in part because the city would have to pick up another 15 percent of the workers' premium "split." He also has questioned the wisdom of leaving Blue Cross/Blue Shield and locking into a three-year contract with GIC.
Both the mayor and the City Council have suggested waiting until next year; the unions have formed a committee in anticipation of negotiating with the city and filed a complaint with the state's Labor Relations Division over the city's refusal to enter into talks.
According to a press statement from the unions, Monday's gathering will be for "mourning [the] loss of insurance savings."
The GIC covers some 300,000 state employees. Its plans were opened two years ago to local governing bodies, such as towns and regional school districts, as part of Gov. Deval Patrick's Municipal Partnership Act designed to save local government money.
The first year, only a dozen districts, mostly school districts, joined the plan; more are expected to do so for the next fiscal year, including Pittsfield, which adopted the state law allowing public employee unions to negotiate on insurance as a single unit last May.
The public employee unions in North Adams say they have repeatedly asked the city to explore this option but that the mayor has refused to even have the discussion.
Barrett, in response, has said the city needs more information about the benefits and costs of joining the GIC. The city also offered more, low-cost options for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which prompted the unions to file a complaint for failing to negotiate the offerings with them.
Union leaders are inviting residents to join them at City Hall on Monday evening from 4 to 5:30; those participating are advised to dress warmly and bring a flashlight.
The city's seven bargaining units are North Adams Teachers Association; the North Adams Paraprofessionals; the North Adams Police Association, Local 382; IAFF, Local 1781 representing North Adams Fire Fighters; Teamsters Local 404 representing employees of the Department of Public Works; the North Adams Teachers Assistants Association; and AFL-CIO 204 State Council 93, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees/ City of North Adam. |
| I have been closely following the insurance saga and have a few questions to ask. Why doesn't the mayor along with the unions sit down together,off the record, not during negotiations and share the info each have about GIC. That way the mayor can show how the GIC doesn't save the city money and the unions can show where it does. Then decide where to go with it. It has been my understanding that the unions just want lower health insurance premiums since theirs are the HIGHEST in the area. I have heard the unions don't even care if its GIC, just give them another plan to reduce costs. GIC is just one option they have looked at. I also have a problem with the mayor always being at odds with the city workers-the very ones who support/work for the community in so many ways-if he is not arguing with the police, its the firemen. Now its the teachers turn. I have heard from school committee people that in fact they are not at odds with the teachers during negotiations. In fact they have stated that the 2 sides have worked very hard to cooperatively. So how can the mayor say insults and name calling goes on? Someone please answer these questions for the public. | | from: donna king | on: 12-12-2008 |
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| GIC has statewide rates. Those rates are based on medical costs inside 495. That's where all the people are. Medical costs out here are substantially less. So while it may be a no brainer to go with GIC in eastern mass, it is definitely NOT here. Most cities will NOT save millions. | | from: B. Rubble | on: 12-05-2008 |
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I truly wish that the unions get their way if their insurance plan is really a win-win for them and the city.
I hope iberkshires.com is able to follow up this story and inform us how things are going as this is something that pertains not only to the unions but also the taxpayers. It so frustating that oftentimes the transcript does not follow up on stories.
Thanks | | from: taxpayer | on: 12-01-2008 |
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| 2 reasons way the mayor does not want this insurance. 1st He has friends and former employees still on the city insurance and the city is paying for it, and if the city changes to this insurance those name will be made public. 2nd He has been over charging for the present insurance and using this extra money for other things. | | from: Citizens of North Adams | on: 12-01-2008 |
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