We, as the employees of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, want to express our concern that staff are not feeling valued. Health care costs are increasing at an alarming rate, longevity and loyalty do not appear to be rewarded by the administration, and current compensation packages make it challenging to sustain a family.
The healthcare increases implemented for FY 13 will be detrimental to the University’s efforts to recruit and retain staff. We request that the University system seek to mitigate these costs for FY 14 to prevent a competitive disadvantage among peer institutions and other state agencies. We furthermore ask to see additional choices developed to preserve our current PPO options, and incorporate Health Savings Accounts, Supplemental Insurance options, HMO options, and innovative solutions to broaden choice and potentially reduce costs.
To sign this petition either see your UAF Staff Council representative or see Mary Sue Dates at 110 Eielson Bldg. For rural sites please email your comments to marysue@alaska.edu
The University of Alaska regents believe that “the opportunity for faculty, staff and students to participate in the governance of the university is important to its effective operation.” UAF Staff Council is your “opportunity” to participate in governance and contribute to the future of our university.
Showing posts with label Staff Petition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Staff Petition. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2012
Staff Affairs - April 2 Meeting
Health Care:
It was agreed there is need to be more options. The committee discussed the option of Higher Dedcutible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). To have the health savings account the pharmacy plan would need to be re-worked. It is not clear to us, as we have not had the time to do much research, this would be a great option of UAF staff. The health savings account allows you to make withdrawals outside of medical expenses and the amount in the HSA rolls over every year; neither of these are an option with the flexible spending account.
The committee agreed to create a petition for staff to sign expressing our concerns about health care and how staff feels devalued in the lack of fight for them by the administration. It is agreed the petition would not be electronic as it is important to get actual signatures. The petition will also provide represented staff and faculty to sign showing support of the unrepresented staff. Once the petition has been approved by the UAF Staff Council President, it will be sent out to all staff council representatives to staff signatures.
As signatures are gathered completed pages will be provided to the UAF Staff Council President and Vice President with a request to provide copies of the signed petition to the Joint Health Care Committee, President Gamble, Chancellor Rogers, the Board of Regents, etc.
Tuition Waiver:
Discussion about the possible changes to the tuition waiver recognize the increase in benefits with the increase in possible credit hours taken each semester and each academic year. However, concerns were voiced about capping credit hours and that the waiver would fall under the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for students. The committee agreed to revew the proposed changes and SAP, then come back to the next meeting (April 16) to discuss a written outline such as SAP. The outline would be reflective of staff using the tuition waiver.
Tobacco Policy:
The committee is in favor of a Tobacco Free Campus and not a Tobacco Free Hiring Policy. It was stated UAKJobs has already instituted the Tobacco Free Hiring with a question asking if the applicant or any depedent living in the household uses tobacco. Before going further in action to draw up a motion, it was decided a member of the committee would contact UAF Human Resources to verify the UAKJobs information. See Staff Council Notes regarding this issue.
It was agreed there is need to be more options. The committee discussed the option of Higher Dedcutible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). To have the health savings account the pharmacy plan would need to be re-worked. It is not clear to us, as we have not had the time to do much research, this would be a great option of UAF staff. The health savings account allows you to make withdrawals outside of medical expenses and the amount in the HSA rolls over every year; neither of these are an option with the flexible spending account.
The committee agreed to create a petition for staff to sign expressing our concerns about health care and how staff feels devalued in the lack of fight for them by the administration. It is agreed the petition would not be electronic as it is important to get actual signatures. The petition will also provide represented staff and faculty to sign showing support of the unrepresented staff. Once the petition has been approved by the UAF Staff Council President, it will be sent out to all staff council representatives to staff signatures.
As signatures are gathered completed pages will be provided to the UAF Staff Council President and Vice President with a request to provide copies of the signed petition to the Joint Health Care Committee, President Gamble, Chancellor Rogers, the Board of Regents, etc.
Tuition Waiver:
Discussion about the possible changes to the tuition waiver recognize the increase in benefits with the increase in possible credit hours taken each semester and each academic year. However, concerns were voiced about capping credit hours and that the waiver would fall under the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for students. The committee agreed to revew the proposed changes and SAP, then come back to the next meeting (April 16) to discuss a written outline such as SAP. The outline would be reflective of staff using the tuition waiver.
Tobacco Policy:
The committee is in favor of a Tobacco Free Campus and not a Tobacco Free Hiring Policy. It was stated UAKJobs has already instituted the Tobacco Free Hiring with a question asking if the applicant or any depedent living in the household uses tobacco. Before going further in action to draw up a motion, it was decided a member of the committee would contact UAF Human Resources to verify the UAKJobs information. See Staff Council Notes regarding this issue.
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