After more than a month without a counter offer, UF offered Graduate Assistants United a new proposal for their health care plan Monday.
GAU, a union representing graduate assistants, has been negotiating the health care portion of their contract since Jan. 30, when UF made the initial proposed changes. These changes included a $10 monthly premium, higher deductibles and copays. In UF’s revised counter offer, the premium remained, but deductibles and other costs were lowered.
Bill Connellan, UF’s chief bargainer, said if GAU chooses to keep the premiums in place, he can be more flexible with the rest of the contract. Previously, the graduate health care plan had no monthly premiums.
“We like Gator Care, Gator Grad Care,” Connellan said, referring to the health care plan. “I see my job as to save it and make it sustainable into the future.”
GAU’s health care chair, Bobby Mermer, said he was glad UF offered a counter proposal so they can begin to move forward. He said there are still concerns with the offer, including costs for dependents.
He said dependents, which can include spouses and children of graduate assistants, bear a large portion of the cost. It can be especially difficult for international students’ children, he said, who don’t qualify for federal Medicaid.
Mermer said the union looks forward to further reviewing the contract with UF.
“Despite sometimes being painted by some of the administration as spoiled brats, we are very reasonable people,” he said. “So everything’s up for negotiation.”
Contact Romy Ellenbogen at rellenbogen@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @romyellenbogen
