AFT Local 1966

Unit 17 negotiations blog

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:24:58 -0400

Check here for current updates related to our current negotiations and future negotiations: http://unit17negotiations.blogspot.com/

Union Opts Back in to Staywell

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:00:50 -0400

Please read carefully the following message from Executive Director Karen Sawislak:

To UC-AFT represented lecturers and librarians:

I am writing as a follow up to my January message about the new UC Wellnessprogram (Staywell). As you know, the UC-AFT Executive Board had joined allof the other UC unions in opting out of this program, because it was notclear to the Board that UC had made adequate provisions to ensure members'privacy.

Last month, UC management arranged meetings with its unions and withrepresentatives from Staywell. At the meeting with UC-AFT, it became clearthat the privacy concerns that our Executive Board had expressed were beingaddressed. Most importantly, we have been assured that the Staywellprogram will ask for your permission before sharing your personalinformation with anyone else.

Therefore, UC-AFT has decided to opt back in to the program so as to allowyou to make this choice for yourself. Within the next few months, you willbe getting notification of this from Staywell, and you can fullyparticipate, if you choose to do so. (Note that this program is voluntary,and there is a modest financial incentive to participate.)

The union leadership does NOT, however, make any recommendation aboutwhether you should or should not participate. Some concerns remain. Thoughthe UC health plans indicated, in writing, that the health surveyinformation Staywell collects would not affect future insurance eligibilityor rates, we remain concerned about possible harm to our members, despitethis pledge. In addition, we are wary of electronic data security issues atthe health plans.

The Staywell health assessment survey will ask participants if they willallow their survey information to be released to their health plan. If youdo decide to participate, we strongly encourage you to refuse permissionwhen you are faced with this choice.

Most other UC unions have continued to opt-out of the Staywell program onbehalf of all those they represent. These unions have expressed concernabout the possible future misuse of the wellness plan to determineindividual health insurance premiums and coverage for UC employees. Forexample, some private sector employers now require that employeesparticipate in wellness plans in order to receive lower insurance premiumsand co-pays.

UC management has not promised us that they will never implement a similarpractice, and therefore, UC-AFT shares our fellow UC unions' concerns aboutpossible abuses of a wellness plan. We have told UCOP that while we supportthe access to health information and counseling now offered by the Staywellplan, we will strongly oppose any future misuse of such programs.

In the end, the UC-AFT Executive Board was persuaded that the Staywellprogram has adequate privacy protections and wanted to allow members todecide for themselves whether to make use of this wellness program. As youmake your own decisions about whether or not to participate in Staywell,please be mindful of the issues outlined above.

Karen Sawislak
Executive Director
University Council--AFT
274 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
510-740-0145
fax: 510-808-0378

Union's Position on Staywell

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:26:00 -0500

In light of the University's recent emails responding to rumors about the unions' position on the Staywell plan, I am posting here the UC-AFT executive director's original and more detailed explanation about union concerns. The unions are continuing to discuss the issue with UCOP and it is possible that progress will be made, but for the time being, our unit members (lecturers and librarians) continue to be opted out.

- Sandy Baringer

[More below the fold]

from Karen Sawislak:

The UC-AFT Executive Board has voted to join all other UC unions inopting out of the new UC Wellness program (Staywell). This decisionwas made because of very serious concerns about medical privacy andUC's misleading information about the consequences of an employee'sdecision to participate in the Staywell program.

Participation in the Staywell program is conditioned on the completionof a heath assessment survey. Survey participants receive a $75 giftcertificate and a variety of personalized feedback and information.

In its publicity about the Staywell program, UC has stated that theinformation disclosed in response to the survey is "confidential" andsubject to HIPAA (federal medical privacy) protections. Thisassurance of privacy protection is misleading.

What UC has failed to disclose about the Staywell plan is that UCreserves the right to provide survey responses to the employee'shealth plan -- and that UC and the affected individual have no controlover how the health plan then proceeds to make use of thisinformation. Therefore, the medical information provided by theemployee is not confidential or private. Moreover, the surveyresponses likely will become part of the medical records maintained bythe health plan for that employee.

This is extremely troubling because the surveys typically ask for agreat deal of information about personal health practices, mentalhealth, and family history. In the event that an employee might leaveUC and need to seek insurance as an individual or through anotheremployer, it is possible that a health plan might rely on thisinformation to deny coverage or charge higher premiums

This situation came to light as a result of information requests filedby the California Nurses Association (CNA) in their current contractnegotiations with UC. CNA asked that UC change their health assessmentprogram so that it did not hand over the employee's surveyresponses for unknown use by their health plan. UC refused to modifythe Staywell plan, but informed CNA that they, along with any otheremployee group, could opt-out of participation.

CNA then alerted the entire UC Union Coalition. After reviewing thecorrespondence between CNA and UC, all of the member unions, includingUC-AFT, determined that the undisclosed privacy issues with the healthassessment survey were of such serious magnitude that their unitmembers were best served by a decision to opt-out of participation.

In the future, it is the hope of UC-AFT and the other UC unions thatany UC wellness plan will offer true privacy and confidentiality forthe medical information of employees. At this point, UC is unwillingto make this commitment. Therefore, no represented employeescurrently are participating in the wellness plan offered for 2008.

UC now has offered to provide additional information about theStaywell program to the UC unions and has pledged to work to addressthese privacy concerns. We expect to receive additional briefings onthe Staywell program in late January. If and when UC resolves theseprivacy concerns, UC-AFT will have the option to opt-in to theStaywell program.

With best wishes for 2008,

Karen Sawislak
UC-AFT Executive Director
ksawislak@cft.org

The Official CFT Endorsements on the Ballot Initiatives

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:10:00 -0500

Side note: the gambling initiatives only benefit 4-5 specific tribes.

[Endorsements below the fold]

NO 91 Transportation fund compromise

Changes the law relative to use of transportation funds and is no longer supported by its backers due to a legislative compromise.

YES 92 Makes college affordable again

Provides the chance for every Californian to go to college by reducing student fees and stabilizing funding at the community colleges.

YES 93 Limits legislators' terms in office

Reforms term limits by reducing the number of years that California legislators can serve, but allows them to serve all 12 years in either the Assembly or the Senate.

NO 94, 95, 96, 97 Amend Indian gaming compacts

Gambling deals that fail to protect worker rights, protect the environment, or provide any funds to schools and colleges.

John Edwards Event in LA Thurs 12:30pm

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:08:00 -0500

This is not an official union endorsement (AFT has endorsed Clinton), but I know some of our members are Edwards fans so if you are interested in attending this event in LA tomorrow, here's the link for info:

http://www.johnedwards.com/events/rsvp/20080117-losangeles

- Sandra Baringer
UC-AFT Local 1966 field representative

Website Production Class Needs Students

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:46:00 -0500

One of our union members and fellow lecturers, Ken Erlich, teaches an art class in digital media that will be cancelled if its enrollment doesn't increase from 4 to 8 by tomorrow. Please announce to your classes; I'm posting an announcement on my ilearn sections. The class schedule says permission of the instructor is required if the student has not taken Art or FVC 7, and that attendance first 2 weeks is required, but allowances will be made under these circumstances. Propsective students can contact him at ken@kenerhlich.ent. The class is Art 167 - Intermediate Digital Media: Web Authoring. It meets Tuesdays 10-1 with a Monday evening lab, 7-10pm. - Sandy Baringer UC-AFT Local 1966 field representative

UC-AFT Council Meeting Sat. Jan. 19, UCI

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:04:00 -0500

To all UC Riverside lecturers and librarians: following is the agenda and location details for the next statewide UC-AFT council meeting, which will be held at UC Irvine. ALL members are encouraged to attend and since I know many of you live in the Irvine area, I hope to see you there.

- Sandy Baringer, UC-AFT Local 1966 field representative

UC-AFT Council Agenda - Saturday, January 19th, 2008
UC-Irvine, Humanities Instruction Bldg. Rm. 135

10:00 am-12 pm

Executive Session (without staff)
a. Staff Contract
b. Staff Participation Discussion
c. Budget Report
d. Election Committee Formed

12:00-12:30 Lunch

12:30-4:30 UC-AFT Council (With Staff)

President's Report on the State of the Union
Executive Director Report
a. AFT/CFT Relations
b. Unit 17 Bargaining Report and Strategy
c. Unit 18 Workload Committee Report
d. Prop 92
e. Social Security Update
f. Legislative Update
g. Coalition work

UC-AFT Opt-Out of New UC Wellness Program (Staywell)

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:09:00 -0500

A message from our executive director:

[More below the fold]

To Unit 17 and Unit 18:

What UC has failed to disclose about the Staywell plan is that UCreserves the right to provide survey responses to the employee'shealth plan -- and that UC and the affected individual have no controlover how the health plan then procedes to make use of thisinformation. Therefore, the medical information provided by theemployee is not confidential or private. Moreover, the surveyresponses likely will become part of the medical records maintained bythe health plan for that employee.

This situation came to light as a result of information requests filedby the California Nurses Association (CNA) in their current contractnegotiations with UC. CNA asked that UC change their health assessmentprogram so that it did not hand over along the employee's surveyresponses for unknown use by their health plan. UC refused to modifythe Staywell plan, but informed CNA that they, along with any otheremployee group, could opt-out of participation.

With best wishes for 2008,

Karen Sawislak
UC-AFT Executive Director
ksawislak@cft.org

StayWell health assessment

To take full advantage of StayWell benefits, a participating employeeor family member would first take a voluntary online or paper healthassessment survey that reviews their health behaviors and gives themimmediate, personalized feedback to help understand the results andsuggest any changes that may be helpful.

Upon registering for a health assessment, the participant establishesa personalized website that is a portal to health information andservices and becomes an individual wellness tracking and progresssite.

Those who complete a health assessment will receive a $75 giftcertificate that may be redeemed at a wide variety of recognizedretailers. This gift certificate is available not only to employees,but also to dependents age 18 and older who complete a healthassessment.

When taking the health assessment survey, the participant's personalidentifying and health information is fully protected in accordancewith the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996(HIPAA) and other privacy laws.

--
Karen Sawislak
University Council--AFT
274 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
510-740-0145
fax: 510-808-0378

Open Enrollment Ends at Midnight

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:43:09 -0500

Just a reminder - last chance to decide on your health plan.

One option to consider if you're getting hit with an increased employee contribution is to opt for the "core" plan which costs you nothing. I wouldn't recommend this unless you have dual coverage via another plan through a spouse or another job. But if you have a good HMO through a spouse or other job, you can supplement that with "core" coverage at UC which allows you to see ANY doctor, subject to a $3,000 deductible and maximum $2 million payout. The core coverage gives you some sort of other option in the event your HMO refuses to authorize some sort of procedure that you want to have.

Call the benefits office with last-minute questions about this, or look at the plan summaries online. Don't rely on my advice because I'm not an expert, but this is what I personally decided to do rather than go with Healthnet.

- Sandy Baringer
UC-AFT Local 1966 field representative & English Dept. lecturer

Health Benefits Advisory from Union

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:47:00 -0500

In connection with the current open enrollment period on UC health benefits, I'm forwarding the following from a staffperson at the California Nurses Association, one of the other UC unions, on two topics: the health assessment questionnaire, and rights to keep a Pacificare doctor past December 31 - Sandy Baringer, UC-AFT Local 1966 field representative

BEWARE: UC Health Assessment Questionnaire is NOT Confidential

UC really wants you to fill out their 2008 Health Assessment Questionnaire, and markets the questionnaire as "voluntary and confidential".

While this year the questionnaire is voluntary, it definitely is NOT confidential.

In responses to CNA’s written questions, UC admits that their questionnaire subcontractor (StayWell) CAN GIVE your questionnaire answers to your insurance plan. These questionnaires typically cover extremely personal matters. This means your private and personal answers do not stay with the questionnaire subcontractor, and instead can be sent to your health insurance plan.

How does UC plan on getting around this confidentiality problem and yet still get you to give the health plan your very private and personal medical information?

First, by not telling you it is not confidential.
Second, by inserting a terms-of-use statement at the beginning of the on-line questionnaire that you have to accept before you can get to the questionnaire. And counting on you not reading the terms-of-use statement, especially when you have been repeatedly assured that the questionnaire is confidential.

These "wellness questionnaires" are one of the current fads in the health insurance business. Often the incentive to get you to participate in the first year is a gift certificate. The incentive in subsequent years may be dramatic health insurance premiums increases if you and your dependents do not follow the recommendations of your "wellness counselor". This is one of the issues Sutter RNs struck 2 days over last week (Sutter is a large hospital chain in northern California.).

Know Your Rights to Keep Your PacifiCare Doctor

California law protects your right to keep your PacifiCare doctor after December 31 for six specific conditions: (in situations like UC terminating PacifiCare and switching you to HealthNet):

Pregnancy and post-partum period
Care of a child between birth and age 36 months
Planned surgery
Terminal illness
Serious chronic condition
Acute condition

Your PacifiCare doctor must be willing to accept HealthNet rates, and this transitional care will be paid for by HealthNet for 12 months maximum. These are called your "Knox-Keene" rights.

You can contact the California Department of Managed Health Care, which protects HMO consumers and enforces this law, at 1-888-HMO-2219, or online at www.hmohelp.ca.gov.