Member Matters: Health premiums explained; Contract violation at Castle High; Hawaiian Airlines discounts; Free NEA life insurance; Free Hilo workshop, posted 9-9-2016

Frustrating health premium costs explained  In recent weeks, a number of members have contacted HSTA regarding health care premiums that increased on July 1. They were concerned because the 3.2 percent across-the-board pay raise that went into effect on Aug. 20 did little to offset those health care premium increases. Here are some of the common questions HSTA has received: Q1. Why don’t we get free medical like some private businesses offer to their employees? A1: The Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act (HPHCA) requires private sector employers to provide at least half the health care costs for their employees where the individual employee's share is no more than 1.5 percent of  monthly wages. Costs beyond 1.5 percent would have to be paid by the employer. Many businesses choose to subsidize or cover the full cost.  Employees’ dependents (spouse and children) are not covered, so employees often have to pay a large cost to cover their family members.  Unfortunately, the HPHCA does not apply to federal, state or county employees.  Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act Q2. Why won’t the state and DOE pay 100 percent of the premium for their employees? A2:  Money.  Health benefits are a huge cost and have continued to rise more than seven percent per year since 2013. It would cost the State of Hawaii tens of millions more to cover 100 percent of the premium cost for HSTA members who make up one-third of all state government employees. If one union were to get 100 percent medical, all other unions would demand the same; and the total additional cost to the state would be more than $100 million a year. Q3. Why doesn’t HSTA negotiate lower health care costs? A3:  The state law is structured in a way that the HSTA cannot negotiate its members’ health care plans.  The two major medical insurers in Hawaii -- Kaiser and HMSA -- negotiate their rates directly with the State of Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF). HSTA has only one representative on the 10-member EUTF Board of Trustees.  The trustees (five of which are employer representatives) negotiate with the two insurance programs over rates and benefits. When premiums rise, both the employee and the employer pay higher premiums. However, health care costs are rising faster than inflation and our salaries. Currently, the employer pays approximately 57 percent of all costs but are higher or lower depending on what plan each individual employee picks. Q4: What is the State of Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF)? A4: While teachers were being furloughed in 2010, the state Legislature opted to sunset the HSTA VEBA Trust which allowed HSTA members to have their own health care plans.  The elimination of HSTA VEBA Trust plans was supposed to save the state money by consolidating HSTA members (with lower health care utilization rates) with all other state employees into the already existing EUTF. The state was sued over this move.  In late 2010, Circuit Court Judge Karl Sakamoto ruled in Kono v. Lingle that the EUTF needed to offer those covered under HSTA VEBA plans with EUTF plans that had the “same level of coverage.”  These plans are now listed as HSTA VB plans under the EUTF and are limited only to those who were in HSTA VEBA Trust plans. Unfortunately, his ruling did not prevent premium costs from increasing. EUTF Rates VB Rates Q5. Why doesn’t HSTA bargain a better contract to lower health costs? A5: We are trying. Under state law, HSTA can only bargain with the employer the specific dollar amount the employer will pay towards health care premiums.  Salaries, health care costs, class size reductions all come from the same pot of money. Since we are the only statewide funded school district with no local funds, we are competing with many other groups for funding. This is why HSTA has fought to increase revenue to go into education. President Rosenlee's message on health care costs Hawaii teachers are the lowest paid in the country when you factor in Hawaii's high cost of living. "Because pay and health care coverage do not keep up with inflation, it becomes increasingly difficult to survive even though we love our jobs," said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. "Sadly, this has meant many qualified teachers in Hawaii are leaving the profession and we do not have enough teachers to fill positions. This situation is bad for teachers and our students. As a union, we need to take action to improve our schools." Our contract expires next June 30 and contract negotiations are underway. HSTA encourages its members to get involved by attending their chapter representative assemblies, participating in HSTA activities, submitting testimony to the Legislature, and remembering that as a union, we need to exercise our collective power to create change.   Wear red for ed! Wear red for ed on Tuesdays to show show support for public schools and each other. Above: Nearly all the teachers at Holomua Elementary in Ewa Beach wore red last month. Below:Teachers from Konawaena Elementary on Hawaii Island showed their spirit earlier this month. Send your "red for ed" photos to info@hsta.org and we will post them on Facebook or in our email and hard copy newsletters. Mahalo.   HSTA in the news: Castle classroom cleaning contract violation For the first five weeks of the school year, teachers at Castle High in Kaneohe were sweeping their own classrooms and taking out the trash because the school was in between classroom cleaner contracts. But under pressure from HSTA and Channel 2 News on Thursday Sept. 8, the DOE finally solved the problem and has stopped improperly adding more work for teachers in violation of our contract. See KHON 2 News story featuring HSTA Secretary-Treasurer Amy Perruso here: Teachers forced to clean their own classrooms at Castle High Teachers: If you are having similar problems at your school, ask your faculty reps for help.   Tell us your BOE, Legislature priorities  The HSTA Government Relations Committee wants your input for its 2017 legislative priorities. The committee will use this feedback to craft its recommendations to the HSTA Board of Directors about HSTA priorities for the 2016-2017 Board of Education and 2017 legislative session. Take HSTA’s legislative priorities survey  The survey will close Sept.15, so please take a few minutes to answer questions as soon as you are able.   Speak out for better schools at final Oahu ESSA Town Hall Oahu teachers: This is your last chance to speak to the citizens' board that's working to reshape and improve public education in Hawaii. It's important that the governor's Every Student Succeeds Act task force hears compelling stories from teachers who are in the best position to know what needs to change at the Department of Education. Please make time to show up and be heard at the final ESSA Town Hall meeting next week. Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6 to 8 p.m., Moanalua High School, Oahu For an updated town hall list and to register, click here. These ESSA talking points can be used by teachers to prepare to speak at the task force meetings throughout the state that end Sept. 14.     HSTA members receive a 5 percent discount on round trip transpacific flights when making your reservation on www.hawaiianairlines.com/affiliate (code HSTA) For a limited time -- through the end of the year -- take advantage of special offers to selected international destinations: September is Life Insurance Awareness month Why Life Insurance? A primary use of life insurance is to replace the future income that is lost when someone dies. For families with young children, you have a need for life insurance. If both parents work, the loss of even one income may cause the family immediate financial hardship. A family may not be able to meet mortgage payments, provide for child care, or prepare for retirement. Immediate and future family needs may be delayed. Register for NEA Complimentary Life Insurance As an HSTA member, you also belong to the National Education Association (NEA), the largest professional employee organization in America with over 4 million strong.  Your membership automatically qualifies you for coverage provided at no cost to members. Provide peace of mind for your family by registering your beneficiary today. What is it? Up to $1,000 of term life insurance $5,000 of accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage $50,000 of AD&D insurance for any covered accident that occurs on the job or while serving as an Association leader $150,000 of life insurance for unlawful homicide while on the job Who gets it? To help provide for your family, the NEA Members Insurance Trust® makes valuable benefits available at no extra cost to Active, Staff, Reserve, and Life members. How do you register for it? Please go to www.neamb.com to register as a member and name your beneficiary. If you have not yet registered on this website, please do so and you will be directed to the Complimentary Life Insurance Beneficiary designation page.  If you have already registered as a member on this site, log in, click Insurance and then Complimentary Life Insurance, and follow the steps to name or rename your beneficiary. If you have any questions, please call NEA MB at 1-800-637-4636.    Don’t depend on your friends and family for financial help; be sure you enroll in the life insurance plans available to you.  Visit our website, www.hstaveba.org or call our office at 808-440-6940 or 1-800-637-4926 (toll free from neighbor islands).  McDonald’s of Hawaii celebrates teacher appreciation by giving teachers free coffee in September When: Every Tuesday in September  What: McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii honors teachers with "Teacher Appreciation Month" in September Where: All participating McDonald's Restaurants in Hawaii    Details: McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii wants to thank teachers for all they do for our keiki. During the month of September, teachers will get a free medium cup of hot or iced McCafe® Royal Kona Blend every Tuesday at participating McDonald's locations in Hawaii. No purchase necessary Teachers must present their valid 2016 school ID upon ordering Limit one free cup of coffee per person, per visit Offer dates:  Tuesdays: Sept. 13, 20 and 27 Offer times:  Entire day Free Hilo workshop: Pedagogy of Aloha The HSTA sponsors a free workshop on the impact of Hawaiian-focused instruction, curriculum and assessment methods Saturday, Oct. 1, at UH Hilo Campus Center, room 301. Potluck lunch. Dr. Ku Kahakalau, an award winning Hawaiian educator, researcher and cultural practitioner, will share the impact of Hawaiian-focused education methods and offer insights on new preferred ways of teaching and learning that address 21st century realities. There is no cost. Register for the free Pedagogy of Aloha training here  For more information, contact hstaspeakersbureau@gmail.com.   Get involved in your fall RAs Here's the schedule for Representative Assemblies for chapters statewide in September and October. September 2016 September 13:  Hamakua RA September 13:  Honolulu RA September 20:  Leeward RA September 20:  Maui RA September 20:  Molokai RA September 27:  Kauai RA September 27:  Windward RA September 29:  Central RA September 29:  Kona RA October 2016 October 4:  Kohala RA October 18: Hamakua RA October 18:  Leeward RA October 20:  Central RA October 20:  Maui RA October 25:  Hilo RA October 25:  Honolulu RA October 25:  Kauai RA October 25:  Lanai RA October 25:  Maui RA October 25:  Windward RA October 27:  Kona RA Celebrate Peace Day with events on Hawaii Island and Oahu Sept. 24 HSTA's Youth, Human and Civil Rights Committee encourages teachers to celebrate the 2016 International Day of Peace by promoting peace education within their classrooms and conducting a peace education activity with their students. This year's theme for Peace Day, celebrated worldwide on Sept. 21, is The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace. More information on the UN's Peace Day events • Peace Poster Contest Students and teachers from around the globe will be urged to express their own interpretation of this year’s Peace Poster Contest theme: “Peace = Future.” For more on the Peace Poster Contest, click here. Hawaii Peace Day Events • Island of Oahu, Pearl City Sat., Sept. 24, 2016 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. This year, Peace Day Hawaii will be held on the grounds of the Urban Garden Center, 955 Kamehameha Hwy., Pearl City, Oahu. For more info on the Oahu Peace Day event, click here. • Island of Hawaii, Honokaa Peace Day Parade Sat., Sept. 24, 2016 4 p.m. Mamane Street; entertainment to include marching bands, taiko drummers, hula, bon dancers, cirque performers and multicultural music and entertainment. Peace Day Festival, Honokaa Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 5 - 7 p.m. For more info on Big Island Peace Day events, click here.   Benefits of Belonging meetings start next week New educators, come find out how HSTA supports you!   Get connected to:  Our HSTA community and member benefits HSTA VEBA Trust insurance plans and protection  Our HYPE (Hawaii Young Professional Educators) program for new educators Professional development courses.  Benefits of Belonging meetings will be held: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m. Location: Hookele Elementary School, 511 Kunehi St., Kapolei, Oahu Sign Up for Kapolei Benefits of Belonging Tuesday, Sept. 20, 4 p.m. Location: HSTA Headquarters, 1200 Ala Kapuna St., Honolulu, Oahu Sign Up for HSTA/Red Hill Benefits of Belonging Friday, Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m. Location: Sodexo, UH Hilo Dining Hall, Hilo, Hawaii Island Sign Up: Email Debra Borges at deblani29@yahoo.com Monday, Sept. 26, 4 p.m. Location: Mililani High School HQuad, 95-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani, Oahu Sign Up for the Mililani Benefits of Belonging Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m. Location: McKinley High School Library, 1039 South King St., Honolulu, Oahu Sign Up for the McKinley Benefits of Belonging  Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act EUTF Rates VB Rates Teachers forced to clean their own classrooms at Castle High Take HSTA’s legislative priorities survey For an updated town hall list and to register, click here. These ESSA talking points can be used by teachers to prepare to speak at the task force meetings throughout the state that end Sept. 14. Register for the free Pedagogy of Aloha training here For more on the Peace Poster Contest, click here. For more info on the Oahu Peace Day event, click here. For more info on Big Island Peace Day events, click here.

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