The first-ever statewide school employee healthcare package came as the result of more than a year of preparation and bargaining. As you know, the final agreement came about after a neutral arbitrator chose the union-crafted plan over one submitted by the Vermont School Boards Association.
The arbitrator’s decision is binding on school boards and more than 40,000 school employees and their families. The current healthcare agreement expires on Dec. 31, 2022.
Unlike the process in place when local school boards and local associations reach impasse, the law creating statewide healthcare bargaining forced the arbitrator to choose only one side’s proposal rather than craft a pact that takes elements from each.
In short, the new statewide healthcare plan will mandate how much public school employees pay for premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, how out-of-pocket expenses are administered, who is eligible for healthcare, and how grievances related to healthcare are handled.
We know you’ll have questions, and we encourage you to ask them at healthcarequestions@vtnea.org.
Last Best Offers Now Before Arbitrator
