* [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [040321 08:57]: > to pay for it, and punishing the young and the poor until their demands > are met.
I'm 23, I don't feel punished, and I used the bus every day. > Everyone needs health care. No one should get special deals that others > are denied. > > Transit workers, please, go back to your jobs and work politically for a > health benefit that will work for everyone, not just your own members. I think the problem is that they can't just renegoiatiate in the future for better healthcare, these cuts will hurt them within two years to the tune of $100-150/mo. When living paycheck-to-paycheck its a pain to have to worry about that. I don't think the state does a very good job at negoitiating healthcare plans, either. The University of Minnesota system decided to create their own UCare because the state wasn't keeping their plans cost increases competitive with the private sector. One of the options is a self-directed healthcare plan that we end up paying a lot for, but has had fairly (less than double digit) low growth in overall premium costs -- we did get screwed because of changes in the share percentage between the U and workers. Until healthcare is 'fixed' for all, I think the goals of nearly any worker is to preserve their benefits at reasonable cost. Some may do it by getting raises (which under the current pay structure at Metro Transit, they can't -- most of them are near the top of the pay scale) or some may do it by trying to keep premium share percentages at the same point. Anyone who isn't working towards either of these goals have lost already -- sadly I feel that many people have rolled over on healthcare costs instead of using their leverage to engage their employer so that unified they can take on the industry and government. I'm guessing business and labor combined can be a more powerful lobby than drug companies and healthcare providers. At the moment, however (look at the medicare bill!) drug companies and healthcare seem to get what they want -- tons of cash without a imperative to improve quality to match. Also, retirees who will lose their promised benefit feel betrayed. Some sort of phase-out plan should be proposed, not a drop dead date where people who have worked nearly their entire time and planning to retire are told to get back at it for 7 years. It's a tough one, I don't expect them to be able to fix it -- but benefit changes that drastically change salary are becoming the norm for labor, and they aren't happy. -- Scott Dier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> KC0OBS http://www.ringworld.org/ -- http://www.railworks.org/ -- http://publictransportation.org/ -- Stop "playing political splat ball," support the Northstar Train! _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day.
