At the last bargaining session the Union made a proposal based on new Health and Welfare data from the joint consultant. The new data suggested there would be increased hourly costs associated with maintaining your plan benefits. Both parties were concerned with the increase in money necessary to adequately fund your plan. The parties spent most of today in caucus discussing the increase and determining how it would affect their bargaining position. The Employers were unable to return to the table with a proposal.

The parties requested that the consultant look specifically at the increase in medical costs to determine whether the costs driving the increase were part of a trend or if they are due to a temporary increase in large claims. This information will better allow bargainers to determine what funding is truly necessary to ensure stability in your plan.