Joyce Tighe slams 1199SEIU in Letter to the editor{SARATOGIAN}

Well for the first time in her life, my wife has penned a letter to the editor about the screwing we are getting from the great protector of worker rights 1199SEIU. I would also like to point out a few other things about 1199SEIU.

No one was a bigger supporter of Barack Obama than 1199SEIU. And by big a mean $60.7 million to be exact. With the passage of the Obamacare law,1199SEIU sought and was granted temporary waivers for its Heathcare wing. Early estimates claim that because of these wavers 5000 young adults of UNION members are unable to be covered under their parent’s policy and others members and their children can still be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions. The very idea that 1199SEIU was granted these wavers just to me seems morally repugnant.

I have tried to talk to 1199SEIU officers including one who was a friend and a frequent guest at my home. I have called, left messages, e-mail’s and even Facebook messages all to no avail. I guess he just doesn’t want to talk about it and frankly he is no longer a friend in my book. But his attitude is pretty typical of 1199SEIU. They have had almost no communications with members, except through letters from corporate headquarters. I will promise you one thing, I do not forget and I do not forgive their actions. I plan on using every legal course of action of my considerable resources to thwart them and expose them for what they are. A manipulating, self-serving political action group who only exists to provide lavish pay and benefits for a select group of union officials who spend their time lining the pockets of politicians.

To those who have expressed concern it is always appreciated and me and Joyce will be fine. We always are. I should get a tattoo that says “Born Survivor”. Now that’s a thought.

I will have a new NXIVM post tomorrow. I am printing Joyce’s letter in full with a link to the Paper HERE. I have no love for the Saratogian and they hold me in equal distain but I would like to thank them for printing this letter and the earlier story. God that was painful to say. And now Joyce.

"I have been an employee in the housekeeping department of Skidmore College for more than 20 years. As an employee of housekeeping, I have no choice but to belong to Local 200d SEIU1199 and I am charged $43 a month for that "privilege." Skidmore is a private employer and, as such, we have never enjoyed the generous benefits available to public employees, including things such as step increases. Even after 20-plus years, the salary range runs about $29,000 to $32,000 per year. One of the benefits has been the union health care insurance through Greater New York heath fund that is solely owned and managed by 1199SEIU. We are not eligible to join the other health care options available to non-union employees. During last year’s difficult contract negotiations, we agreed to a no-raise contract in the first year and very slight increases in the second and third year. At that time, we were told that the 1199SEIU Greater New York Heath Fund did not at that time foresee any significant rate increases. What we were not told was at that very moment 1199SEIU Greater New York heath fund was in a critical fiscal crisis and was in binding arbitration. Two weeks ago, we received our first letter notifying us that coverage for employee spouses would be going up from a low of $200 a month to a high of $300 a month based on length of service. Then, last week, the other shoe dropped. Not only would my husband’s insurance be increased but now I would have to contribute 4.5 percent of my gross pay on top of that. Now my monthly increase will be from $240 to $260 a month more, while newer employees will be paying close to $400 a month more. They also informed us that all co-pays and deductibles for everything from drugs to lab tests will be increasing to an amount yet to be determined. I have read how the Skidmore community has been asked to support four students who were involved in an incident on Broadway. I only would hope that while they are under no legal obligations, the administration of Skidmore College would rally and support the dining hall and maintenance and housekeeping staff (many of whom are hardworking minorities) of their college who will soon be faced with the choice of shelter or heath care and perhaps allow us to join their health insurance plan. Skidmore College has never let us down in the past and I hope they will work with us, the employees, and 1199SEIU to find a solution before many of us are forced to give up our heath care benefits."