IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING
LOCAL GOVERNMENT HEALTH PREMIUM ISSUE

From the Desk of Joseph P. Calabro, Business Manager

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

            By now, I am sure you are aware of the newspaper article regarding the dramatic increase in the cost of the State Health Benefits Plan that was approved by the State earlier this week.  The increase, that totals 23%, will impact all of our members working for public employers.

            The moment the increase was approved, I began a campaign to arrive at a solution that will provide relief for our members with respect to future employee health care contribution rates.

 Actions that I have already put in motion and actions that will be put in motion in the near future include the following:

• Conversations/meetings with the Governor’s office
  
  
• Conversations/meetings with the Department of Treasury and Legislators
  
  
• Working with the President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, the Executive Director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and other labor leaders representing public employees to form a coalition whose goal is to provide relief to Union workers impacted by the increase
  
  
• Urging the public employers for whom our members work, as well as other public employers Statewide to begin the process of investigating savings that can be realized if the public employers withdraw from the State Health Benefits Plan and use a different carrier to provide healthcare benefits to the impacted Union workers

We will provide additional information once substantive progress has been made with respect to providing relief from this health benefits cost crisis.

Fraternally yours,
JOSEPH P. CALABRO
Business Manager