Working Draft--Letter to the Benefits Committee from the CCCFE Union

Dear Member of the Compton Community College District’s Benefit’s Committee:

As representatives of the Compton Community College Federation of Employees, Local 3486, we kindly request that the Benefits Committee re-evaluate the current benefits package offered to the faculty.  We have received numerous complaints about the overall costs of providing healthcare for a family.  Although the District provided a $12,000 per year contribution towards benefits, it has done very little in terms of reducing the burden for families and has proven to erode the competitive nature of the District in terms of hiring and retaining new faculty members. 

1.       2014-2015.  With $12,000 dollars as a district contribution, a family will still incur additional out of pocket costs and reductions to the faculty member’s take home salary.  Kaiser’s HMO costs $2202.95 per month.  The out of pocket costs for an employee would be 1002.95 per month.  Although the salary might indicate a healthy take home wage, the costs of paying just for Kaiser effectively reduces the salary rate by $1000 dollars per month.  Hypothetically if take home pay was around 3500 per month, it would be reduced to $2500 a month effectively.  This functions like a pay-cut. 

2.      Other districts have been much more competitive.  Long Beach City College effective covers a family at a out of pocket cost of $150.00 per month AND includes dental and vision.  El Camino College offers PERSCare, a Cadillac plan, at $355.12 out of pocket costs for a family.  The plans are often better, and the overall costs are significantly lower. 

Solutions.

1.       The Union proposes that the Benefits committee considers opening up a bidding process for the contracting of benefits services.  We believe in capitalism and the power of the market. 

2.      We would propose that our District would offer the same District contribution rates for families as El Camino College--$1593.00. 

Why?  We have an example.  The District had hired Gabriel Gomez as an English professor in the 2013-2014 academic year.  Because of the nature of the health benefits package, he has chosen to move on.  It was not the salary schedule that bothered him, nor his long commute to Compton, but rather how the benefits package eroded his take home pay rate.  If the District intends to compete for the best talent in California, we must be competitive in this area.  With no changes, the Union would not be surprised that we will lose more talent to the job market which will only get more competitive in California.  Recruiting and retaining faculty talent is important if the District intends to obtain accreditation. 

We look forward to hearing from you in terms of a solution.  Again, it is our hope that the District understands the nature of a Capitalist market. 

Regards

David Hideo Maruyama

Secretary

CCCFE Local 3486