All Pawtucket All The Time

Oct. 24, 2008                                 

Mayoral candidate and City Councilor Don Grebien announced today that, if elected on Nov. 4, upon taking office he would immediately institute a 25 percent medical co-pay share for non-classified members of his administration and non-union classified personnel.

Grebien said the changes are within the mayor’s authority over the appointive jobs, which are not tied to collective bargaining agreements. He said a Grebien administration would continue to honor all stipulations in current labor agreements that govern terms for unionized workers.

“We have top administrators making $60,000, $80,000 and more who have individual  medical co-pays of $5 a week, $10 for a family plan, on insurance packages that cost the city well over $15,000 a year,” said Grebien, who works as a supply chain manager for a major industrial company.

“Coming from private industry, I know those levels are not only unrealistic, they are unsustainable in today’s economy, especially in this city. They are also unfair to the hard-working taxpayers of our city who these administrators are really working for.”

Grebien said he was issuing the press statement because of “scare tactics” by the administration and inaccurate information in the local media which, even though it was later corrected, had left some city workers confused or misinformed about his plan.

“Let me be plain. We are not going to come in and toss the current labor contracts out the window. Their terms will be honored and respected. I’ve made it no secret, including in face to face discussions with union leaders and members, that the city may need to seek some concessions on health care co-pay or other issues down the line in future negotiations. But that of course will be subject to the normal give and take at the bargaining table.

“I want to make one other thing very clear: Unlike the current administration, whatever we negotiate at the table, we will stand behind when it comes time to present the agreement to the City Council for approval. We will not negotiate for months and months with those workers then leave them high and dry when it comes time to stand behind whatever tentative agreement we come to. On the other hand, we feel the non-union positions under the mayor’s authority should be paying a 25 percent co-pay, and we will put that in place as soon as possible.”

A potential 31 positions would be affected, including numerous department heads. Among the top positions affected would be the directors of administration, finance, public works, city solicitor, planning and library directors, chiefs of police and fire, city clerk and city engineer. Grebien roughly estimated the savings, with health care inflation, would likely be well over $200,000 during his first term.                      –30–

Contact: Doug Hadden-Media Relations

Cell: 401-316-9139 //401-767-3277// 4osage@cox.net