March 25, 21010

Tim Hollrans Pro-rated Health Care Greivance Denial:

(From Local 17 Union Rep. Carrie Blackwood)

The Health Department collective bargaining agreement between IFPTE Local 17 and Skagit County states that a "regular full-time" employee works "a regular schedule of 35 hours per week or 40 hours per week".  It is understood from the personnel policy manual in section 6.1 that regular "part-time" employees pay a pro-rated share of their benefits and in this case an employee working 35 hours a week is contractually defined as a "regular full-time employee" not a "part-time" employee and is therefore not required to pay a pro-rated share of their benefits. This is consistent with long standing past practice and contractual agreement.

On December 16th, 2009 Lorna Parent, a Health Department employee, was notified she would be required to pay a pro-rated share of her health care if she converted from forty hours a week to thirty-five hours a week.  A grievance was filed and denied at the final level afforded in the collective bargaining agreement, the Commissioners. During the grievance investigation it was discovered that one other employee, Debora Chavarria, was also required to pay a pro-rated share of her benefits for some undetermined period of time.

It is a change in the terms and conditions of employment for Skagit County to require employees in the health department who are working 35 hours a week to pay a pro-rated share of their health care benefits.

We respectfully request that you immediately rescind the requirement that an employee working 35 hours per week in the Health Department pay a pro-rated share of their health care and we demand to bargain any and all changes in the health care status quo including, but not limited to the requirement that regular full time employees in the Health Department working 35 hours per week pay a pro-rated share of their health care, or we will be forced to file an unfair labor practice with the state Public Employee Relations Commission. 

If we have no response by April 5, 2010 we will assume your refusal to bargain. 

Carrie Blackwood
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 17
Director of Training/ Union Representative
2900 Eastlake Ave. E. Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98102

360-647-8419
1-800-783-0017 x120
Fax: 206-328-7402