April 18, 2013

Local 237 is not in the habit of negotiating through the media, as Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway did before the Citizen Budget Commission yesterday. Healthcare costs are rising throughout the country. Innovative ideas such as wellness programs to better manage weight, diabetes and smoking can reduce costs by 10%. Those savings could then be applied to collective bargaining agreements.

We have made this suggestion to the City for at least the past 10 years and we should continue to discuss healthcare savings. But Holloway chose to announce that the City would give nothing to City employees.

This is an offer that we can, do and will refuse.