Union shakedown

[riasezz]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?MI
I am a clerical worker for a small company and when I was hired I was given the option to take health insurance through my employer which would cost me x amount of dollars monthly or if I didn't need/want the insurance I'd get a higher rate of pay. My husband has excellent insurance so i opted for the higher pay. This company has repairmen who are in the union. I am not nor do I want to be in the union. After being audited, this union told my employer that all of the office staff has to get the insurance they have for the repairmen. Can they force me to take this? I don't need it nor do I want it but they're telling my employer EVERYONE has to take it. Is this legal?

 

[John/nyc]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?MI
I am a clerical worker for a small company and when I was hired I was given the option to take health insurance through my employer which would cost me x amount of dollars monthly or if I didn't need/want the insurance I'd get a higher rate of pay. My husband has excellent insurance so i opted for the higher pay. This company has repairmen who are in the union. I am not nor do I want to be in the union. After being audited, this union told my employer that all of the office staff has to get the insurance they have for the repairmen. Can they force me to take this? I don't need it nor do I want it but they're telling my employer EVERYONE has to take it. Is this legal?

Is the clerical staff part of the union's bargaining unit?

 

[riasezz]

no we are not part of the union's bargining unit- only the service techs are in the union.

 

[John/nyc]

no we are not part of the union's bargining unit- only the service techs are in the union.

The union cannot bargain for or negotiate benefits for employees for whom they are not the chosen representatives. This represntation is chosen on a group basis (not as individual employees). In your case the union does not represent you and, therefore, cannot negotiate your benefits (or lack of benefits).

I suspect that your employer is misrepresenting the facts.

Also, someone who knows more about MI law may be able to advise you about your spouse's obligation to notify his medical insurance carrier of the fact that you could have had benefits at your job but turned them down. This situation may effect your spouse's deductible and/or co-pay.

 

[Beth3]

Also, someone who knows more about MI law may be able to advise you about your spouse's obligation to notify his medical insurance carrier of the fact that you could have had benefits at your job but turned them down. This situation may effect your spouse's deductible and/or co-pay.

John, this is a matter of each employer's particular group health plan, not State law. An increasing number of employers are including "spousal carve-out" in their plans, which means that if an employee's spouse has an option of obtaining group health insurance where he/she works, then the spouse is not an eligible dependent of his/her spouse's employer's plan.

Okay, that gets confusing as heck. Let me try it another way. Joe and Jane are married and work for different employers. Both Joe's and Jane's employers offer group health insurance. Joe's health plan states that his spouse is not an eligible dependent on his plan if she is eligible for benefits through her own employer. Jane is, therefore Joe cannot include her on his plan.

Better?

 

[riasezz]

I have in my possession a copy of a letter that was faxed to my office today from a union official who admitted to his Board of Trustees he misinformed an officer of our company and is asking for compassion before they ask my employer to make back payments owed to the union, and to "immediately start reporting and contributing for each employee on our payroll".
The relevant part of the letter is as follows:

"This letter is pertaining to the employees of ------company who have not been included in the contributions made to the Insurance Fund; let this communication show the company was basically misinformed by me in this matter. These four non-bargaining unit employees have never had their insurance paid by this employer and I was under the impression that the non-bargaining unit employees had to have an existing insurance policy, paid by the employer in order to be eligible for coverage through the Insurance Fund".

All I know is when I was hired by this employer, I was asked if I wanted or needed health insurance. I was told if I didn't want/need it because I was insured through my spouse I would get a slightly higher rate of pay. I opted for the higher rate of pay. I don't feel my employed mislead me, I feel the union is forcing me to purchase their insurance at a weekly cost to me and I don't need it, so why am I being forced to take it?

 

[John/nyc]

I have in my possession a copy of a letter that was faxed to my office today from a union official who admitted to his Board of Trustees he misinformed an officer of our company and is asking for compassion before they ask my employer to make back payments owed to the union, and to "immediately start reporting and contributing for each employee on our payroll".
The relevant part of the letter is as follows:

"This letter is pertaining to the employees of ------company who have not been included in the contributions made to the Insurance Fund; let this communication show the company was basically misinformed by me in this matter. These four non-bargaining unit employees have never had their insurance paid by this employer and I was under the impression that the non-bargaining unit employees had to have an existing insurance policy, paid by the employer in order to be eligible for coverage through the Insurance Fund".

All I know is when I was hired by this employer, I was asked if I wanted or needed health insurance. I was told if I didn't want/need it because I was insured through my spouse I would get a slightly higher rate of pay. I opted for the higher rate of pay. I don't feel my employed mislead me, I feel the union is forcing me to purchase their insurance at a weekly cost to me and I don't need it, so why am I being forced to take it?

I see nothing in your post that indicates the union is forcing your employer to cover you with medical insurance (beside your assertion). Since the quote does indicate that you are a non-bargaining-unit employee that further points to exclusion from any compensation package that the union negotiated for its represented employees.

Therefore I would write to the both the union and your employer expressing your concerns to them.