CWA LOCAL 1103 WINS ARBTRATION CASE AGAINST NYACK

Back in October 2013 and up and till the recent decision by the arbitrator, CWA Local 1103 leadership argued with Nyack Hospital management that Nyack's decision to adopt a new health care plan without proper discussion with the Union was in fact a violation of our contract.

Specifically we alleged that the Hospital improperly changed the health insurance plan administrator without engaging in the process of notification and discussion mandated by the collective bargaining agreement, and that the Hospital's unilateral action increased co-pays and out-of-network fees for some bargaining unit employees whose physicians were no longer included in the plan's provider network. 
 
CWA Local 1103 committed to you that we would not allow this contractual violation to go without a fight.  We promised you that we would have this case arbitrated and we lived up to that promise. We never guaranteed the outcome, although we sincerely believed it was a violation and hoped to be vindicated.  Last week we were when the arbitrator ruled in our favor.

Based on the evidence submitted, "the Hospital did violate Article 24.03 of the collective bargaining agreement when the Hospital adopted a new health care plan in 2014. The appropriate remedy in the instant case shall be to require the Hospital to provide detailed notice to the Union of any future adjustments in the health care plan well before advising the bargaining unit of impending changes and to provide Union officials an opportunity to discuss the details of the proposed adjustments long enough before the adjustments have been finalized so that amendments suggested by the Union can be incorporated into the revised plan if the Hospital accepts such suggestions."
 
It was clear that the Arbitrator did not buy what they were selling.  He dismissed two of the Hospital's more bogus arguments about the grievance itself like a commuter late for work dismisses a beggar on the street. 

As important as winning the instant case is, what perhaps is more important was the clarification of contractual language and the restrictions the arbitrator's ruling put on Nyack Hospital going forward. 

The arbitration win and other items will be discussed at the next Nyack Unit Meeting scheduled for September 14th from 2:00pm - 6:00pm in the Cafeteria Conference Room.