2011 SEBAC Agreement revised: CVS Caremark privacy violations and more bad news

 

 

 

http://alarmedaboutcvscaremark.org/index.php?id=52

Why We’re Alarmed About CVS Caremark

• Drug Favoring and Drug Switching
• A Poor Record on Privacy Violations
• Selling Private Personal Data
• Using Patient Data to Market for Drug Companies
• Information Hungry
• Failing to Protect Patient Privacy in the Retail Setting
• Lack of Transparency

2011 SEBAC Agreement: More CENSORSHIP and controlling the information flow ! ! !

 

 

Awhile back,prior to the 2011 SEBAC Agreement being voted on, SEBAC began to delete posts from union members on the union members own website that did anything other than fully support the union leaders own greed based, arrrogant opinions of the 2011 agreement. Forward 8 weeks and they’re at it again! Comments can no longer be posted on the SEBAC website (for awhile at this point), and now they are censoring the Facebook page and controlling the information flow to members under the guise of protecting members from “inapropriate” comments ! Only  the “committee” members will be able to start new threads and will be deleting posts that they find do not

support their dark agenda.

 

Here’s the link to the article:

Announcement of Revised InThisTogetherCT Facebook Page Policy « In This Together CT

 

…and the article as presented from the SEBAC website

 (should it “disappear”!) 

“Announcement of Revised InThisTogetherCT Facebook Page Policy “

by Matt O’Connor on July 22nd  

“The InThisTogetherCT Facebook page was created to be a social networking source of information and help for members of the unions in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC). The page was launched at the height of the economic crisis so leaders and staff had another tool to assist members in navigating the tough issues and tough choices we face.

But efforts to make the FB page work have been overwhelmed during the effort to reach an agreement that saves state workers’ jobs, their collective bargaining rights, and the services they deliver. The large volume of content from a relatively small group of understandably angry and frustrated folks that want to see an end to the current mess has diminished the page’s effectiveness. It is no longer able to offer information to a much larger group of state workers who want and need answers to the questions they want and deserve answers to.

Beginning today we will recapture the original intent of the Facebook page and make it a source of information for union leaders’ discussions and details of any agreement that may be reached.

Members of the coalition’s communications committee will post information and seek questions from union members, all of which will be more closely monitored. Inappropriate, disparaging, and offensive comments will no longer be tolerated and will be deleted by the committee on a regular basis beginning today.

Additionally, new “threads” will be limited to designated Facebook page administrators, and previously posted threads — as well as the comments associated with them — will no longer be visible.

Some of the folks who have enjoyed the openness of the dialogue on the Facebook page will likely be disappointed by the revised policy. We also know many union members who will be pleased they can more effectively and efficiently find accurate and respectful information during this very critical time.

Those who would like to actively participate in our informational and educational efforts are invited to join the coalition’s team of member messengers. Those interested in helping to facilitate the Facebook page as an administrator are invited to offer their volunteer services to the committee.

Contact your union’s elected or staff representatives to submit your name to the committee.

Thanks to all for the lively opinions and creative composition posted at the Facebook page in the last few weeks.”

 Please see Hadda Enough’s FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002399925494#!/profile.php?id=100002399925494

for the real story and real opinions of union members

2011 SEBAC Agreement: All about taxes and funding the uninsured plan??? Ever heard of ERRP???

Ct. state employees— is opening the 2017 Agreement to make changes to our health and pension plan  all about taxes??? Does this also explain the $100 surcharge you’d be asked to pay to keep your current plan instead of changing over to the  mysterious,  and so far undefinable HEP plan?

http://cpaprotectplus.com/blog/2011/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-health-care-reform-cadillac-tax-part-1-of-2/

Did you know about the ERRP program/fund??? It was new news to me…

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/03/08/obamacare-subsidizes-health-benefits-for-state-and-local-government-retirees/

http://blogs.courant.com/connecticut_insurance/2011/03/connecticut-received-191-milli.html

http://www.errp.gov/

it was supposed to last until 2014 and is almost out of money after operating for only little over a year  

http://biggovernment.com/vmariano/2011/05/04/under-obama-running-out-of-money-is-a-success/

http://www.hfma.org/templates/blogpost.aspx?id=25895

2011 SEBAC Agreement :WTF? Voo-doo?

Why do we need unions  if an entity like SEBAC can simply change the rules, and act as a legislative extension of the Malloy administration???

As I wrote in my last blog…the 2011 Agreement  is Dead in the land of OZ…but watch for the possibility of reincarnation! Or perhaps voo-doo!  Check this link:

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/politics/state-union-leaders-press-conference

Anyone who watches the above news video please pay attention to the deflection and non answers by SEBAC union leaders to reporters questions…this is very similar to responses ( or lack of responses) union members received in the union information sessions about the 2011 Agreement!

When you were a kid did you ever “not play with someone'” any longer because every time you played a game they changed the rules when they were losing midway through the game? We called them “cheaters’.

It seems that the SEBAC leadership thinks that when you lose you just change the rules of the game so you win.

Bottom line…The current SEBAC Union By-Laws are the Union By-Laws and were the rules of the game when  Union members voted. End of Game! 80% approval is required to protect union members interests when negotiating for health and pension benefits under the current ByLaws. 14 of 15 unions needed to vote yes to ratify the agreement…only 11 of 15 did…the vote fell far short of the 80% requirement!

Should SEBAC “cheat” and attempt to change the bylaws to suit their needs…they will lose ALL credibility with ALL union members regardless whether they  individually voted yes or NO! IF the current unions are not decertified, any  negotiations on future agreements will be met with a 99.9% NO VOTE!

Again….why do we even need unions if an entity like SEBAC can simply change the rules, and act as a legislative extension of the Malloy administration???

 Here’s a  fun clip from  “Weekend at Bernies” that reminds me of this whole deal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRMlvBfSBYQ

2011 SEBAC Agreement: Blame, projection and a bit of paranoia !!!

It seems SEBAC Union “Leaders” are getting desperate!

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/union_officials_ask_ag_to_investigate_yankee_institute/

What is it with the Union Leaders that has them thinking that State employees can’t think for themselves!  The P4 Engineering, Technical and Scientific Bargaining Unit sent a legitimate, well thought out letter together stating their concerns, and it took courage to take that step! https://wisdomovertime.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/2011

Now  SEBAC union leaders insinuate it was influenced by the Yankee Institute…???

Come on Union Leader folks….admit it…you screwed this up!…and let your own agendas stand in your way of creating a clear agreement for the State Employees you’re paid to represent!

The HEP plan being “offered” clearly puts State Government in charge of a persons own being and decisions at the threat of being thrown out of the program . While it is technically voluntary as the current plan is not eliminated but changed to include a $100 surcharge and deductible for each family member, the State HEP plan takes charge of an individuals freedom to choose what healthcare services are in their own best interests. It’s government dictating that they ‘know what is best for you”!

 

Likewise, we are capable and responsible for our own decisions on how to vote on the 2011 Agreeement! This bloggers decision to VOTE NO! is based on research that can be found in other postings on this blog and has nothing to do with any info provided or forced upon me by  “outside forces”.

update 6/18/11 Here is the letter from Dan Livingston to AG Jepson published by the Hartford Courant

http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2011/06/unions-write-letter-to-ag-seek.html

2011 SEBAC Agreement: P4 Bargaining Unit Revolution! ! !

Thank you Guys!

The above letter was sent to Patrice Peterson President CSEA regarding the possible illegality of the 2011 SEBAC Agreement Negotiations. Here’s direct link to the webiste it is posted on :   http://www.raisinghale.com/2011/06/15/engineering-union-says-sebac-overstepped-its-authority/

 

2011 SEBAC Agreement: A few final thoughts on voting NO ! ! !

If you haven’t voted yet…..Ask yourself this about the 2011 SEBAC Agreement…..If I knew for a fact that I wouldn’t be layed off would I vote for this package?

 

I believe that the total “Yes” count would be limited to that of those who knew they were getting layed off. So if 7500 were going to be layed off…there would be 7500 “yes” votes. The only factor in this is the FEAR FACTOR”…”will it be me”?

 

There aren’t too many ways to say this but the agreement “sucks”. There is nothing good in it for any State Employee apart from the “sort of” guaranteed job security for 4 years….layoffs can still happen by consolidation and department elimination.

 

My reasons for voting NO!

 

1. No established health care plan is present….a framework… but no actual plan. The only plans we’re lead  to go by expire July 1, 2011…open enrollment was canceled….there is not a plan booklet out for this year.  Anthem, United/Oxford ,or the State Comptrollers office can not give you a contract plan that actually states that it applies to after June of this year. Also…do not forget …contracts with Anthem and United/Oxford expire June 30, 2012. Premiums, copays can rise significantly, and treatments covered, and diagnostic tests (not preventative)  paid for  can  be changed…you’re really only guaranteed your plan won’t change at all this year. Voting Yes allows the State to get “very creative” with your benefits, and not necessarliy in a good way for you!

 

2. If you’re a tier 2  or 2A, retiring after 2022, and decide to pay into your pension to maintain “normal” retirement age….there is no legal protection or language built into the 2011 Agreement that says what happens to the money you invest should the State legislatively change (to a 401k type plan) or eliminate pensions altogether in 2022 ( or even before). Yes, we would be able to file a lawsuit if they did this….BUT…if you want to retire…. do you want to wait another 10 years for your money? Or have to agree to a settlement?

 

3. Will we get that last 3% salary increase? This Agreement has us agree to give back the increases bargained for in 2009….why should we believe that last 3% increase will be given, especially when Patrice Peterson called it a “Bargaining chip for next time”  in a union info session!

 

Finally…..this agreement was put together behind our backs and we had no input!  Several Union Leaders have deep connections to the push for Universal Healthcare … you can read that in another recent blog post here…https://wisdomovertime.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/2011-sebac-agreement-crisis-in-connecticut-the-sebac-scandal-wmv-vote-no/

….and I question how clear their motivations were in bargaining  our interests . Were they more interested in benefitting their philosophical/political alignments? and  forwarding the interests of the charitible organizations some represent?

 

again ask yourself…

Would I vote for this agreement if I knew I wasn’t going to get layed off? 

 

Good Luck…vote safely!

2011 SEBAC Agreement: Crisis in Connecticut- The SEBAC Scandal.wmv — VOTE NO!

 Info available  to all on line … get informed through your own research!…  Union leaders/execs have their own interests in all of this!  VOTE NO!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CvZVVDaKiM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 we have Leo Canty’s Agenda here:

http://canty2010.wordpress.com/health-care/

for info on Dan Livingston, Bob rinker and Sal Luciano see this blog post https://wisdomovertime.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/sebac-2011-and-possible-conflicts-of-interest-of-union-negotiators/

http://ctpeoplebeforeprofits.blogspot.com/2009/05/dan-livingston-accepts-merrilee.html

 

and other agendas here:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/afl-cio-leader-gladly-accepts-communist-party-award/

http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/Unions-Democrats-and-Communists-One-Big-Angry-Family/

2011 SEBAC Agreement: You’ve got to be kidding…the numbers don’t add up? updated 6/7/11

Any state employees suprised by this?…check out these two articles…guess we’re not the only ones without enough information!  Read the link to the SEBAC _Chart.pdf …if you had questions that went unanswered by union reps …the  Ct.OFA is asking the same questions!

Legislative analysts lack details to confirm full concession savings

By Keith M. Phaneuf

http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12836/legislative-analysts-lack-details-confirm-full-concession-savings 

” With the legislature poised to effectively pre-ratify the tentative concession deal with state employees, their nonpartisan fiscal analysts say they are unable to verify that the $1.6 billion in projected savings is fully achievable.” 

OFA Drops Bomb On Lawmakers by Christine Stuart | Jun 6, 2011

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/ofa_drops_bomb_on_lawmakers/

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/upload/SEBAC_Chart.pdf

“The fiscal note compiled by the Office of Fiscal Analysis says it can’t verify the savings and concessions estimated by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration because it doesn’t have enough information.”

If the legislature doesn’t have enough details to make an informed decision on their vote, how do we?

 Updates 6/7/11

Malloy Defends Labor Agreement Estimates; Warns Of Layoffs  by Christine Stuart

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/malloy_defends_labor_agreement_estimates_warns_of_layoffs/

“Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Tuesday morning that it doesn’t really matter what the Office of Fiscal Analysis says about the $1.6 billion union concession package”

Republicans Question Cost-Savings Estimates In Union Deal; Experts Cannot Verify Numbers

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-senate-sebac-0608-20110607,0,3099592.story

2011 SEBAC Agreement: Thoughts on Voting (heck) No ! ! !

Maybe it’s time for “the stuff to hit the fan” for everyone…not just State Employees. The economy of this state will  not change until the whole picture is taken in and analyzed. Specialized long term donations from 45000 will not resolve the problems Connecticut faces….but only placate a public that already has a negative perception of State Employees. No matter which way the vote goes the public view of State Employees will remain the same, and in fact, a yes vote could make it worse by having the public thinking that we don’t even deserve our jobs. That’s the consequence of public service for everyone involved!  

Carefully made cuts  to programs where money is wasted  are what is needed. Please …did anyone know that one of the plan B cuts at DSS is the continued elimination of the “casino bus run” see here (http://www.andr.org/New_Folder/News/MallCuts050611.pdf) . (think your own thoughts on that!)

 

IMO…Special Interest Groups like the Universal Health Care Foundation of Ct. should not be allowed to influence State Policy (SustiNet/Healthcare Pooling), whether SEBAC considers this a conflict of interest or not, from my perspective it is. 

SEBAC apparently doesn’t see having Dan Livingston, Chairman of the Board of CHART ( The parent organization of the Universal Healthcare Foundation of Ct.) performing State Employee Union negotiations on our health benefits  as a conflict of interest, as unions in SEBAC support Universal Healthcare, and have received grants to support the education and promotion of universal healthcare   through “Organizing and Advocacy Grants”  http://www.universalhealthct.org/grants-grants.php  to”Inform and engage individuals, small businesses, health care providers, and communities of faith, advocates, labor, and other key constituencies to participate in a collective call for quality, affordable health care for every Connecticut resident. The main focus of these groups was on state health reform, with some grantees also providing education and mobilizing individuals and groups regarding federal health care reform” from their website.

 

However….As individual union members,you or I may not think that way or support universal healthcare, or any other organizations with political motivations that may be supported by SEBAC. So specifically applied to this scenario….SEBAC’s interests might clash directly with the interests of many union members!

 

Real “concessions” are temporary…. meaning  jobs cut by lay offs, that later can be refilled, furlough days assigned, that can be removed and a 35 hour work week, that can be extended and funds restored to programs that are cut  … when (and if) the economy improves.

 The long term structural changes requested to our pensions and health benefits have resulted  from the “borrowing” by the past administrations who did not make the required deposits into our pension funds, in order to replace money from tax breaks handed out to banks and corporations, this money was never replaced  

see: http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/new-evidence-on-public-pensions/#print

Do not open the 2017 Agreement! It is  extremely unlikely ( I don’t like the word “impossible” but… ) that any Governor or adminstration will come in and offer us “more” in the future.

We may get hammered in 2017, or perhaps by then we will have less impulsive administration, but that is 6 years from now. I see no rational reason to give that up now.

 While my heart goes out to those who may suffer (including us!)…this decision has to be made on business level, using a logical thinking process….the Governor is making his decisions based on that model…you might want to do so as well.

 

I will be voting no … heck NO!

see update 6/5/11

https://wisdomovertime.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/1431/  for  more thoughts on voting heck NO!