Call to Reverse McGill's Unilateral Staff Benefits Reductions
The employee benefit plans are not funded entirely from the operating budget - at McGill the staff pay 50% of the cost, and their views voiced through the SBAC about the use of their own money cannot be disregarded. All employee groups participated in good faith in the recent SBAC process, which had reviewed the health and dental plans, and pointed to considerable savings that could be achieved without any financial hardship for employees. This could involve moving to direct deposit of plan payments into member bank accounts, the preferential use of generic drugs for the University, and a consistent focus on coverage for evidence-based health care. All employee groups agreed that the substantive scope of the plans, specifically, the health plan "out-of-pocket maximum," payment for health care supplies and services, existing dental plan coverage, including for implants, minor restorative services, major services, and services for retirees should all remain untouched. Thus, there was no process of consultation with employees leading to the changes that were actually announced, which make sweeping reductions to our benefits package. Thus, to say that employees were consulted on the announced changes to the plans amounts to saying that their views were heard but rejected. That is not collegial governance of jointly funded plans.
It is also striking that the McGill Board of Governors voted on these unilateral changes without having received the proposal in advance of the meeting so that Board members could inform themselves that the proposal departed radically from the SBAC consultation. This is inconsistent with transparent university governance.
The savings to the university represented by these changes go beyond the
McGill vaunts its status among Canada's top employers, and invokes generous staff benefits as a contributing factor: see http://reporter.mcgill.ca/2009/10/mcgill-once-again-a-top-employer/
That reputation is now in jeopardy. When McGill takes such unilateral steps, it seriously erodes the trust of every employee group. This deeply disturbing decision must be reversed.
(signed) (signed) (signed) (signed) Robert Huot Kevin Whittaker Ron Critchley Richard Janda President President President President SEIU, Local 800 MUNACA MUNASA MAUT
For further information: Professor Richard Janda, President, MAUT (McGill Association of University Teachers), (514) 398-5097, [email protected]
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