The Board of Trustees meeting was filled with the district’s faculty wearing blue t-shirts that read, “I am union.”
The Health Reimbursement Account, which gives district workers $1,500 a year, has helped many union workers with their medical expenses, might not be available for them as of January 2017.
Larry Kraus, the associate vice president, agrees with the faculty and administration in keeping their benefits for their needs.
“It should be considered as part of assistance that the district offers to the employees of colleges,” Kraus said.
Faculty members held signs that supported the Health Reimbursement Account beneficiary movement.
Faculty is asking for the Board of Trustees to continue giving this benefit to the district’s faculty.
Kraus said money issues are the reason why the board may no longer offer this benefit next year.
– Updated as of 7 p.m. 10/7/16-
The Health Reimbursement Account is an IRS-approved, employer-funded, tax-advantaged and employer health benefit plan that reimburses employees for out-of-pocket medical expenses and individual health insurance premiums, according to Zane Benefits blog.
Faculty and administration are asking for the Board of Trustees to continue giving this benefit to the district’s faculty. Staff members were also questioning the Board about why there has been lack of communication with the district community on the HRA issue for four months. The faculty and administration members have contacted the board regarding this issue, but have not heard a response.
Joanne Waddell, president of the LA American Federation of Teachers (AFT) College Faculty Guild 1521, pointed out to the Board of Trustees how many employees showed up to the meeting because of the lack of communication. She also mentioned that Prop 55 is important to maintain higher education in schools.
“Last May we sent you a request to reopen the master benefits agreement; you could’ve said let’s talk or take a hike. You could’ve said any number of things, but you didn’t respond at all for four months,” Waddell said. “Those four months were critical for employees that counted on you to help them plan their healthcare needs for a year. The problem is not that you’d eventually give us a timely response of ‘no’. The problem was there was no response.”
According to Ballotpedia, Prop 30 temporarily increases personal income taxes on the highest earners, couples with incomes over $500,000 a year and establishes the sales tax at a rate lower than it was last year. Prop 30’s taxes are temporary, balanced and necessary to protect schools safety. Prop 55 intertwines with Prop 30 because it is an extension of what has already been passed. Prop 55 will continue the income tax increase on those who earn more income yearly. Prop 55 will be presented on the ballot on Nov. 8 2016.
History instructor Brian Walsh, spoke to the Board of Trustees about his personal experience with the HRA benefit and how it helped pay for his son’s medical expenses. Walsh also reminded the board about the support that was given by administration and faculty when the Board of Trustees was elected.
“When you wanted to be up there you came to us and you asked for support,” Walsh said. “We gave you money and when we were falling off the cliff financially we went out there and got Prop 30 passed and my god we are going to get Prop 55 passed.”
“These are the hardest working people I know they deserve the HRA,” Walsh said. “You’d be amazed on how many of them rely upon it and how many live in state senate district 22 and board of equalization district 3.”
Throughout the meeting many public speakers advocated their concern on how the Board of Trustees would deal with the issue since they have not heard a response to the proposal. However, Scott Svonkin, President of the Board of Trustees explained to the audience that no discussion could be made in today’s meeting between both parties unless it was on their agenda.
“It is not our practice to respond today. Most of the items you will be speaking on are not on today’s agenda. Therefore it will violate the Brown Act to engage in a discussion of an item not agenized,” Svonkin said.
Larry Kraus, the Associate Vice President, agrees with the faculty and administration in keeping HRA as a benefit for their medical needs.
“It should be considered as part of assistance that the district offers to the employees of colleges,” Kraus said.
Kraus believes money issues are the reason why the board may no longer offer this benefit next year.
Vice President of the Board of Trustees, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, believes that health benefits are critical to families who are struggling to survive and the cost of housing, foods, transportation and health are increasing.
“We as a board are committed to making sure that our district is healthy and that the folks that are going to our schools to learn, coming to our schools to teach, and helping the schools run have what they need,” Kamlager-Dove said. “I think the HRA. conversation is an important, and I am hopeful that we can all come to a resolution very soon because the testimonies were very compelling. People need the HRA to survive.”
The testaments given at the meeting seemed to have an impact on Kamlager-Dove who does believe communication is needed with her colleagues on the matter. She also explains how her understanding of the HRA problem has to due with it being offered for two years and probably not in the third year in fear of a “Cadillac tax.”
“The fact that so many folks showed up today means that we as a board need to have some more conversations about it,” Kamlager-Dove said. “At the very least it means that the two sides are not either understanding each other or are not communicating well.”
The following Board of Trustees meeting will be held at Los Angeles Southwest College on Wednesday Nov. 2.