PULLMAN, Wash. — The Washington State University (WSU) Academic Student Employees Union is filing an "unfair labor practice" suit against the university
The union claims the university isn't negotiating properly over health insurance, affordable healthcare being one of the reasons the union was formed in the first place.
According to the complaint, most ASEs are covered by WSU's Student Health Insurance Plan. Benefits for plan year 2022-2023 included out-of-pocket maximums, vision exam coverage of $65 per policy year, preventative care services for adults, women and children and coverage for medical emergencies.
ASEs said they found out in May 2023 that WSU planned to change health care costs and benefits. The complaint states the union knew those changes would be made to out-of-pocket expenses, prescription coverage and vision coverage. Those changes went into effect for the 2023-2024 plan year on Aug. 16.
"Admin’s failure to bargain with us over healthcare, a benefit that so desperately needs improvement and is so deeply important to many ASEs, is completely unacceptable," the union said in a statement. "We chose to form a union precisely to ensure that these decisions get made through negotiation with us, not presented to us as a foregone conclusion.
To learn more about the suit, click here.
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