TABLE TALK
Negotiators met on March 16 and 17. Health insurance was the order for both days. Items discussed included adding a third level co-pay for non-preferred brand name prescription drugs, the creation of the Empire Plan hospital network, laser surgery discount, hearing aide benefits, co-pays, dental improvements, mastectomy prostheses, making over - the - counter drugs eligible for Health Care Spending Account reimbursements, a discount medical provider network and the problem our Members experience with non participating providers who perform services in hospitals that are in the network. Staff from Express Scripts gave a presentation on the ins and outs of the proposed changes to the Rx program.

The tone of the meetings was positive. The time was spent productively. The parties next meet on Tuesday, March 23.     

PEF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETS 
On Tuesday, March 16, 2004, the PEF Executive Board met and considered possible action regarding contract negotiations.  After hearing recommendations from the Contract Team and the President and after conducting three hours of questions and deliberations in Executive Session, the Board passed by a huge margin the following motion.

"PEF will take no position on any announced state union contract and will use all the resources of the union to achieve the best possible contract for PEF members."

UUP SETTLES
Source: TROY RECORD, March 17, 2004
By James Franco
http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11132275&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=8

ALBANY - The state reached a four-year deal with the United University Professions Tuesday, the second major union to get a contract this month.

According to the memorandum of understanding, members would get an $800 lump sum payment upon ratification by the full membership.

In the second year, starting on July 1, members would see a 2.5 percent increase. In July or September of 2005, members would see a 2.75 percent increase, and in July or September of 2006, a 3 percent increase.

The 23,000 academic and professional faculty working on 29 State University of New York (SUNY) campuses would also get an $800 bonus in July of 2007.

There is also a geographic cost of living allowance for employees living in the more expensive parts of the state, and an inconvenience pay increase for those working between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Health insurance premiums will not go up, but there will be an increase in employees' co-payments for health treatment.

The agreement is similar to an agreement reached with the state's largest union, the Civil Service Employees Association, last week.

The UUP has been without a contract since July 1.

There are seven other major unions without a contract, including the Public Employees Federation, which held a rally at the Capitol last week protesting the state's bargaining practices.