Judge backs county health insurance contribution hike

March 21--TRAVERSE CITY -- Grand Traverse County officials will ask for guidance after a judge backed a county move to require all employees to pay 20 percent of their health insurance costs.

A Feb. 14 ruling from Administrative Law Judge Julia Stern dismissed five Teamsters Local 214 unfair labor practice claims, confirming a board of commissioners' vote to increase employees' insurance contributions from 6 percent to 20 percent.

"That was a big win for county taxpayers, as far as bringing health insurance payments back in line with the marketplace," said county Administrator Tom Menzel.

Menzel said Teamsters officials have since withdrawn four of the five grievances. Teamsters 214 business representative Bob Donick confirmed the withdrawals and declined further comment.

Teamsters union officials filed the unfair labor practice claims Nov. 9 on behalf of county employees in central dispatch, 86th District Court, the health department, sheriff's captains and lieutenants and general employees.

Court documents show Teamsters officials felt a board of commissioners vote to increase health insurance contributions for all employees on April 27 was wrong because of timing -- toward the middle of employees' contracts.

Stern ruled the Teamsters grievances filed in November -- more than six months after the board vote -- were untimely and "should be dismissed on that basis," according to court documents.

Commissioners will host a special meeting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the situation and to ask their legal counsel to help determine how to move forward. Menzel said options could include maintaining the status quo, or fulfilling any union requests, among others.

"I think (the court decision) does say we did all of our homework," Menzel said. "This was an appropriate step to take to lower our costs."

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