Welcome back.

At the conclusion of our last school year the district and CUTA were negotiating the impacts and effects of the changes in the JPA Red Plan.  Undoubtedly, most of you are already paying additional out of pocket costs and may be fearing for the worst when you consider seeking medical care under the new, reduced Red Plan.  While these changes went into effect on July 1^st (lowlights include the elimination of coordination of benefits for employed spouses, the involuntary shift of retirees to the Blue Plan, and an increase in out of pocket costs by 25%), CUSD has made no proposal to compensate teachers for these additional burdens.  We are now in the final year of our three year agreement to provide benefits as offered in the Red Plan in 2009/10.

In June, CUTA made multiple offers and proposals to resolve this issue.  Unfortunately, our efforts met with little participation in the process from CUSD, and our frustration over the district’s reluctance to actively bargain led us to invite the district to join us in applying for impasse.  In July, CUSD responded that they were still interested in bargaining but continued to have no proposal to put forth.   After the recent passage of a State budget (something the district claimed to be necessary before they could put forth any offer) we are hopeful that impasse can be averted and see no reason not to expect a proposal to resolve the disparity between the Red Plan as contracted and what is now being imposed upon us. 

We have optimistically invited CUSD to join us at the table once more.  We assume they will have something to bring forth and we have delayed moving toward impasse for the time being.   At the same time we ask our unit members to keep careful track of all medical expenses from July 1, 2011 through the remainder of this coming school year.

The Bargaining team appreciates your ongoing support and wishes you a smooth beginning to what we hope will be a successful school year.