NBC Prevails in Health Care Dispute

NBC Prevails in Health Care Dispute

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is pleased to announce its partnership with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) to provide health insurance coverage for the NBC’s 250 employees.

In accordance with the negotiated collective bargaining agreement provisions, the NBC converted from its prior health insurer and adopted UHC as its health insurance provider on August 1, 2009. Local 1033 of the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) filed suit in Superior Court seeking an injunction to prevent the health insurance change, and also filed a grievance protesting NBC’s choice of UHC. No injunction was granted by the Superior Court and the grievance proceeded to arbitration before Professor Marc D. Greenbaum of the Suffolk University School of Law under the guidance of the Court.

LIUNA is one of two unions representing NBC employees. Council 94, AFSCME, the other union, did not challenge the change to UnitedHealthcare.

According to NBC’s labor attorney, Vincent F. Ragosta, Jr., the issue before Arbitrator Greenbaum hinged on whether the UHC insurance plans were “substantially equivalent” to the agency’s previous plans, a condition required by NBC’s labor contract with LIUNA. After days of hearing during the months of September through November of this year, the case was resolved with Arbitrator Greenbaum concluding that the UHC plans were “substantially equivalent” to the NBC’s previous health plans. NBC employees will now continue to be covered with UHC health insurance plans.

“Ultimately, United Health presented the Commission with quality insurance products at a competitive price. The coverage provided is good for our employees and the financial savings is good for NBC’s ratepayers,” said NBC Chairman Vincent Mesolella. “Moreover, we are excited about working with UnitedHealthcare to help our employees to lead healthier lives.”

Chairman Mesolella credited Attorney Ragosta for his advocacy, and noted the cooperation of LIUNA attorneys Charles Ruggerio and Aubrey Lombardo in forging a consent arbitration award which was approved by Arbitrator Greenbaum after nearly three months of arbitration.