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September 21, 2007
PBA Clericals Protest Health Program Shift
By REUVEN BLAU
A small group of clerical staffers at the Patrolmen's Benevolent
Association is upset that the union is switching its health insurance
provider and delaying wage increases.
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| PATRICK J. LYNCH: Plan will
benefit employees. |
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The approximately 70 clerical employees who help administer the union's
welfare fund recently were forced to switch from the Empire Plan
to the Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP). "Sloan-Kettering
isn't covered," one staffer said. "If God forbid I'm diagnosed
with cancer, I'm prohibited from going to the best hospital. It's
got everybody pissed off."
Lynch: Helps Workers
PBA President Patrick J. Lynch last week defended the move and
claimed it would save employees money. "We've implemented
a new plan that avoids increased co-pays for our employees, reduces
hurdles necessary to secure treatment by specialists and provides
enhances dental and optical benefits, all with no premiums to our
employees," he said in a statement.
The workers have also not received their traditional annual July
1 raises. "We are low-paid employees," one staffer
argued. "We used to have the same benefits as cops make, but
now that's no longer the case."
Mr. Lynch said that the raises are being worked out and will be
retroactive, as in past years. "PBA employee raises ... have
been intertwined with budget approval and employee performance
reviews," he stated.
The workers said they are looking into joining Local 153 of the
Office and Professional Employees International Union, which represents
staffers at various other unions.

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