Tuesday, March 8, 2011

"We just really aren't in the mood tonight." Milwaukee Teachers Union after seeing the Budget Repair Bill and Budget

Mental Health Break:


Unless you're a contractor who specializes in installing antique four-legged bathtubs in people's backyards, you can appreciate that Governor Walker's budget proposals have already accomplished some welcome movement from teacher unions on fringe benefits.


In late February, the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association directed its lawyers to drop the lawsuit against MPS seeking full erectile dysfunction coverage in the district's health plan.


Money Quotes from the Journal Sentinel article today:


"During negotiations with the union for its 2003-'05 contract, MPS tried to stop coverage, citing rising costs.
An arbitrator sided with the district in 2005.
The union's lawyers argued that dropping the drug coverage constituted discrimination against male employees because Milwaukee Public Schools' health plans covered medications for female sexual dysfunction.
The district countered that eliminating the drug coverage was a necessary cost-saving measure.
It also argued the move was not discriminatory because Viagra and similar drugs are mainly recreational."

I assume from the district's argument on the equal protection issue that the district concluded it was not in danger of shutting down its own pipeline.  

No comments:

Post a Comment