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Health Care Benefits
Benefits - A Continual Battle
"Where do my benefits come from?" The only correct answer to this question is quite brief: Benefits come from the Union contract. They are negotiated by the Union. We hope to provide a brief overview of the history of these benefits.
Union-negotiated and company-paid health and welfare benefits are relatively new to collective bargaining agreements. Before 1952, there were no such provisions in 751's contracts or in the agreements signed by most other unions. Before 1952, all health and welfare costs were paid by employees.
The Union continues to push for better benefits each round of negotiations. Unfortunately, after the terrorist attacks of 9-11, the Company shifted more of the costs of medical onto employees -- a trend that is taking place across the country.
Health care remains a top concern of our Union. It becomes harder every contract to negotiate improvements due to rising costs of health care and the increasing influence of insurance companies. Recently, the Washington State Labor Council met to consider legislative proposals for health care reform. Proposals ranged from incremental changes to improve access and affordability of health coverage to dramatic changes aimed at universal coverage which separates health insurance from employment. Many nations have already improved access to health care by developing universal health care systems. Clearly, national health care has to be on the political agenda. It is overdue.
