On August 31, The Faculty Association of Monmouth University (FAMCO) submitted a healthcare plan proposal to reopen healthcare negotiations with Monmouth University Administration, proposing September 14th as the start of negotiations over faculty healthcare. FAMCO’s goal in negotiations is to secure quality, affordable healthcare for faculty by November 1st, when the enrollment period begins. FAMCO submitted a formal demand to bargain healthcare benefits earlier this month. Monmouth University has not responded to FAMCO’s formal demand to bargain with proposed dates to meet at the bargaining table, so FAMCO seeks to move the process forward by submitting their healthcare plan proposal to the administration today. Faculty want to get back to the bargaining table and settle healthcare, particularly as inflation drives up cost of living.

A FAMCO analysis during 2021 contract negotiations with the administration suggested that Monmouth University consistently overcharged employees for healthcare benefits. Faculty won a one-year freeze of healthcare costs and an agreement to re-open negotiations on healthcare before January 2023 to secure changes to health insurance that benefit faculty and their families. Soon after, the administration reported it saved nearly $2 million by moving to self-insurance in October 2021 at FAMCO’s suggestion. Given the savings, faculty, staff, and their families should not pay higher healthcare insurance premiums. As part of the 2021 agreement, FAMCO and Monmouth administration formed a Labor Management Committee (LMC) to gather research, share information, and prepare to draft healthcare plan proposals, including a more affordable direct access plan and a high-deductible plan with an out-of-network option, but University administration repeatedly dodged their obligation to provide FAMCO financial information verifying the itemized savings and costs that make up the approximately $2 million total healthcare savings and the planned premium increases of 1.4% reported by the administration. The administration also did not explain why they chose not to bid-out prescription drug coverage to get the lowest price. Without that information, it is unclear to FAMCO that Monmouth University is spending money responsibly.

FAMCO President Johanna Foster said, “our health insurance premium rates were on the incline for years until we negotiated a one-year freeze for 2022. With the administration’s announcement of nearly $2 million savings through self-insurance, there’s no reason our premiums should go anywhere but down.” FAMCO is also working with Monmouth office and professional staff, organized as OPEIU Local 32, who are equally ready for quality and affordable healthcare. Holly Davis, Chief Steward for the Local said, “We support FAMCO’s campaign to protect the physical and mental health, and also the financial health, of the faculty at Monmouth. OPEIU has made a demand to bargain healthcare with the same healthcare platform as FAMCO, and we are proud to stand in solidarity with our colleagues on the faculty. We know that as staff and faculty united, our good health ensures Monmouth’s good health.”

FAMCO eagerly awaits the administration’s response to the proposal. Keep mufamco.org bookmarked and follow @mufamco on Twitter for more updates as they happen!