Unlike the state, municipalities must negotiate with local unions before increasing co-pays or deductibles, a requirement the report's sponsors and the Massachusetts Municipal Association want dropped.
At issue is what role collective bargaining should play in revising the system and whether municipalities should join the state plan or simply use it as a model.
Unions made other concessions to get better health care, state fire union head Ed Kelly said, but are open to deductibles and larger co-pays as long as bargaining is protected and a safety net established for especially sick employees and their relatives.
"We don't have our heads in the sand," he said. "We know this is a problem."Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x532922584/Report-says-health-coverage-for-municipal-employees-costs-too-much#ixzz1IjbLPUOK
Franklin, MA
