“The 411″ is your connection to straight answers to some frequently asked questions about StarTran’s contract proposal and the negotiation process.
Q: According to the union bargaining team, the company is not negotiating anything, they simply give the union their proposals, take ours and walk out. No talking or discussions. Is this the truth?
A: Since, May 22, 2007, there have been nine labor negotiation contract meetings ranging in length from one to two days. During the last three labor negotiation contract meetings, a Federal Mediator was used to ensure that both the Union and StarTran were able to equally discuss the contract in detail. Both parties were able to express concerns, propose new ideas, and discuss any parts of the contract to the fullest extent. The role of a Federal Mediator is to ensure that fair labor negotiations are in practice, and that all sides have exhausted their ability to reach a decision before walking away from the negotiation table.
Q: Why are you offering a $1,000 signing bonus instead of a raise retroactive to when the contract expired?
A: The contract expired on June 30, 2007. Since that time, StarTran has continued to pay for an expensive health benefit plan. Any opportunity to save these health care costs and apply the savings to a raise is lost since more than a year has passed. However, a $1,000 signing bonus will provide employees with some relief for the year working under an expired contract, especially at a crucial time when many parents are purchasing school supplies for their children for the upcoming school year.
Q: Will tax be taken out of the $1,000 signing bonus?
A: The IRS stipulates that all wages you receive from your employer are taxable per federal law. StarTran must abide by that law.
Q: Why does StarTran want the right to change insurance carriers during the contract?
A: Currently the offer states, “The Employer has the right to change insurance carriers, after meeting with the Union to discuss possible changes in the plans.” StarTran and Capital Metro have a self-insured health care plan. We contract with a carrier, the current contract and all available extensions expires in December 31, 2009. Capital Metro will be required to go through a competitive selection process during the term of the labor agreement that could result in a change to the current carrier.
Q: Since the new health plan covers 90% (after deductible) for hospital services, does that mean if I have a lengthy hospital stay and receive a $100,000 hospital bill, I will have to pay $10,000?
A: Absolutely not! The plan includes an annual out-of-pocket limit of $1,500 per individual or $3,000 per family. Once you reach the deductible and out of pocket limit, the plan pays 100% of covered expenses.
Q: Why are you raising co-pays and adding deductible and co-insurance payments to the health care plan?
A: StarTran must control skyrocketing health care costs in order to remain competitive and protect jobs. For example, each month based on the current plan, StarTran pays about $1,300 per employee for health care benefits. As a comparison, the City of Austin pays about $650 per month per employee.
Q: What improvements are included in the new health benefits package?
A: Unlike the current health care plan, the new package includes:
-Out of network coverage (you are free to choose any doctor of health care provider).
-Lower monthly premiums for Employee & Children coverage.
-Coverage for weight loss/nutritional support.
-Coverage for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease medications at a lower co-pay.
-Orthodontia coverage in the dental plan.
- Coverage for smokers cessation medication and support.
Q: Why are you changing the preventable accident time from 12 to 24 months? Will I get fired if I have more than three accidents in 24 months?
A: The safety of an operator and passenger is StarTran’s #1 priority. The offer states that having three preventable accidents in a rolling 24-months period will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Operators demonstrating a good driving record have nothing to worry about based on this change.
Q: I’m confused about the service curtailment language in the proposal (Article 36). If my regular run is a school route, will I be an Extra Board operator during spring break?
A: Article 36 formalizes the process for how StarTran will assign work during emergency situations (such as the ice storm in January 2007) when service is curtailed. For example, if your assigned run is an Express route but all Express routes are temporarily cancelled due to severe weather, you would revert to Extra Board status until your run is resumed.
Service curtailment has nothing to do with scheduled events such as when school runs stop during spring break.
Q: How do the proposed health care benefits compare to other public agencies in the Austin area?
A: The monthly premiums you will pay are significantly lower than plans offered by the City of Austin (including police officers and firefighters), the State of Texas, Travis County and AISD. For example, your monthly premium for Employee & Family coverage will be $154.33. City of Austin employees pay $370 per month for Employee & Family coverage.
Q: Will you provide increased rewards for good work?
A: Yes! Recognition for performance will be incorporated into the pay progression for new employees. Existing employees will have the choice to switch to this progression if they desire. The new progression will allow you to move more quickly to the top pay rate.
Every employee under this progression will automatically get a raise every six months of at least 50 cents an hour. Bus operators who do not have a preventable accident and have no more than two absences over the six month period will receive a larger raise of at least a $1.00 an hour. If your performance is consistently good, a brand new operator would reach top pay in three and a half years.
You also will have the opportunity to earn up to $1,000 per year for participating in wellness activities.
Q: Why is there so much communication about the offer this time?
A: It is important for you to make an informed decision about this offer. StarTran is committed to open communication about the proposal. We have been hosting Q&A sessions at various facilities and various times of the day or night so all employees have the opportunity to lean about this offer.
Q: Why has StarTran proposed to delete the contract language that requires Union approval before making any changes to the healthcare plan?
A: It is impossible to guarantee that all provisions of the plan will remain the same. For example, StarTran has no control over possible changes in the provider network or the prescription formulary list. In addition, should StarTran wish to seek fully-insured coverage to determine competitiveness with self the insured plan, we must have the flexibility to make plan changes. Please note that since the PPO Plan being offered to the bargaining employees was implemented for administrative employees in 2005, the only changes to the plan have been enhancements.
