Meramec professor, board members speak out in vain against change
BY: Melissa Wilkinson
Editor-in-Chief
STLCC’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday, March 22 to approve, among other things, changes to the medical benefits plan offered to employees of the college. The change, effective June 1, 2018, will increase the employee contribution from 10 percent to 13 percent. Combined with the proposed increase in medical insurance rates, the change will effectively raise employee coverage costs by 21.3 percent.
The changes are meant to create savings for the college in the wake of massive budget cuts to STLCC’s core funding.
Emily Neal, Meramec professor and Vice President of STLCC’s NEA branch, spoke out at the meeting before the vote. Neal questioned why the changes were being proposed despite the recommendations of Budget Response Team work groups, including Neal herself.
“I know that as an employee of STLCC I have above average health benefits,” said Neal. “This change to our benefits represents a cut in pay. Why is the administration moving this forward now above the recommendations of the committee? Why is the college pressing for these cuts against employee benefits?”
Tracy Carpenter Bond, District Coordinator of Veterans Services, also served in a budget response work group. Carpenter Bond accused the board of having “a different agenda” when they asked the response groups for input.
“We understand what it’s like to live on a budget, but the college can make cuts in other areas. You had committees, you asked for our opinions and you didn’t listen,” said Carpenter Bond. “You already knew what you wanted to cut. To me this shows a lack of respect for the people you asked to be on those committees.”
Deborah Barron, Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, fielded board questions and defended the increase in employee contributions. Barron said the increase in premiums are “very modest” and ultimately much lower than what the board initially authorized.
“It’s a reality that premiums for health insurance continue to rise. We were charged with cost savings from our health care. Unfortunately for this year there simply wasn’t the time to put any other plan…in place given that we have to roll out open enrollment in the next three weeks. We looked at several benchmarks…and we also looked at comparisons of six other community colleges. Those changes are very, very market competitive. We are still by far on the low end,” said Barron.
Several board members also expressed concerns. Trustee Joan McGivney said she was “pleading” with the administration that if the plan were to be approved that evening to come back next year with a better offer, as premiums are getting less and less affordable. Trustee Pam Ross said outright that she would vote down the plan, citing in particular the increase in emergency room copays from $150 to $250.
“I don’t think people who are at a lower wage can do this. I understand people misuse [emergency room visits] but I’m thinking of the bottom of the wage group. We don’t necessarily pay competitive wages for low wage workers,” said Ross.
Ultimately the board voted to approve the increase in employee contributions, with all but Ross and Trustee Libby Fitzgerald voting yes.
