BURBANK TEACHERS UNION GIVES CONTRACT TENTATIVE OK.Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer BURBANK - The 850-member Burbank teachers union has tentatively ten·ta·tive adj. 1. Not fully worked out, concluded, or agreed on; provisional: tentative plans. 2. Uncertain; hesitant. accepted a one-year contract that gives members 2.75 percent raises and replaces their CalPERS health insurance with a choice of other carriers' plans. The district will save $1 million by opting out of CalPERS - the nation's second-largest purchaser of public employee benefits - allowing them to provide the teachers with raises effective Jan. 1. The Burbank Unified School District A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. and the Burbank Teachers Association also tentatively agreed to cap the district's contribution for medical benefits at $9,438 per teacher - $397 less than under the previous contract for CalPERS insurance. ``Given the circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or and the financial situation, this is a fair tentative tentative, adj not final or definite, such as an experimental or clinical finding that has not been validated. agreement we've reached with the district,'' said Kim Allender, co-president of the teachers union. ``We think that the teachers will be pleased with the result.'' The teachers association and school board are expected to ratify ratify v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even though it was not approved beforehand. Example: An employee for Holsinger's Hardware orders carpentry equipment from Phillips Screws and Nails although the employee was not authorized to buy anything. the contract next month. ``We're thrilled thrill v. thrilled, thrill·ing, thrills v.tr. 1. To cause to feel a sudden intense sensation; excite greatly. 2. To give great pleasure to; delight. See Synonyms at enrapture. . Our goal was to get a dollar cap on health and welfare benefits, and we achieved that,'' said Nancy Gascich, the district's director of personnel services. ``We also achieved a raise for teachers, which will improve their standing throughout the county in terms of competitive salaries, so we're very happy with the agreement.'' The district and teachers association have negotiated with Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. to provide similar health insurance benefits for teachers while retaining Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care organization, based in Oakland, California, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. as an optional insurer An individual or company who, through a contractual agreement, undertakes to compensate specified losses, liability, or damages incurred by another individual. An insurer is frequently an insurance company and is also known as an underwriter. . ``We think that what we've come up with is a high-quality health insurance program that will not only save the district premium dollars, but employees as well,'' Allender said. ``We think we've struck a very good compromise on trying to balance quality care with cost. We really believe the majority of our members will see virtually no difference in their coverage.'' The union agreed to withdraw from CalPERS last summer in an effort to seek more cost-effective coverage. Costs of the district's health and welfare benefits were increasing by more than 16 percent each year. CalPERS, which contracts with more than 1,100 public agencies, implemented a 25 percent premium increase in 2003 and is looking at a 16 percent increase for 2004. The rising costs have forced 27 agencies to terminate their contracts with CalPERS in 2004, but at the same time 28 others signed on, officials said. ``The net difference is not that significant. It is not a great exodus by any means,'' said CalPERS spokesman Clark McKinley. The district has eliminated about a dozen positions from its teaching staff in anticipation of a $4 million deficit in their approximately $100 million budget. While the reductions in staffing will help them through the next year, opting out of CalPERS and putting caps on employee benefits will help them through the massive hit they expect to take in 2005. Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com |
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