We have an exciting update on healthcare! CWA and 16 other unions in our Coalition reached an agreement with Governor Sherrill on state workers’ healthcare that includes no cost shifting — 0% increase in healthcare contributions for our members — and a real commitment to address the root causes of the broken State Health Benefits Plan.

This week’s progress — shielding state workers from increased rates and securing the Sherrill Administration’s commitment to structural reforms to fix the SHBP — is a direct result of our members’ action throughout this campaign.

• Lobby days and meetings with legislators
• Mass mobilizations, in record numbers, at the State House
• Packing Plan Design Committee (PDC) meetings, State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) meetings, and budget hearings
• Changing public narrative to help expose the hospital and health insurance industries for what they are: corporatized healthcare driving up costs for everyone

This is a big win for State workers, but it’s not the finish line. The cost of healthcare plans continues to skyrocket across the state, in every job sector. We’ve successfully shielded our full time State Workers from the impact of these increases for another year, but every time the overall plan costs go up, our work at the bargaining table becomes that much more difficult. There will be more attempts to push those costs onto us and eat into our other bargaining items like other benefits and raises.

Today we celebrate an important step in the right direction, but our work isn’t over! We’ve built real momentum and will continue to organize and fight for the meaningful, lasting healthcare reforms all of our members deserve.

In Solidarity,

Kathleen Hernandez, President

CWA Local 1031, AFL-CIO