Blue Care Network and United Auto Workers Reach New Master Labor Agreement
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SOUTHFIELD, March 11, 2009 - A new three-year Master Labor Agreement between Blue Care Network of Michigan and the United Auto Workers was overwhelmingly ratified by workers the week of March 3 and is expected to result in lower future labor costs. The agreement covers approximately 560 BCN employees represented by the UAW.
Patterned after the recent Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan agreement, the contract includes new provisions for new hires. The contract established a separate wage scale, some health premium sharing, and higher copayments and deductibles for new employees hired after Jan 1, 2009.
Employees will receive a 3 percent wage increase and 3 percent auto progression increase. The contract includes higher copayments on prescription drug coverage for all employees beginning in 2010 and no increases to maximum pay ranges for the term of the labor agreement.
"We are pleased to have reached an agreement that continues to provide a competitive benefit package for Blue Care Network employees while realizing significant savings for the company," said Jeanne Carlson, BCN president and CEO. "Throughout the bargaining process, we worked with our UAW partners in a positive way, achieving an agreement that represents the best interest of both parties."
Blue Care Network has offices in Southfield, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing and other cities across the state.
Blue Care Network of Michigan and its subsidiaries have more than 640,000 members. Blue Care Network features award-winning disease management programs and the largest HMO network of physicians and hospitals in the state, with more than 4,300 primary care physicians, 10,200 specialists and 116 hospitals. Blue Care Network, a nonprofit corporation, is the affiliated HMO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For further information, visit MiBCN.com.
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