298-967

Contact: Terry Conry or James Kemper, Ohio University, 614/593-1636

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University will continue to take an active role in responding to the current union organizing drive to ensure that accurate information is distributed which gives employees the opportunity to make an informed choice about whether or not they want to be represented by AFSCME, said University Human Resources Director James Kemper.

"This is important, because the union organizers have made statements which create mistrust of the university and have misrepresented facts," Kemper said.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees currently is operating an organizing drive for classified staff at Ohio University.

"Ohio University has always worked closely with employees on issues of concern, and that will continue," said Terry Conry, assistant director of University Human Resources for employee and labor relations. "The university provides a work environment where employees' voices are heard. And we will continue to seek their advice."

For the past several months, Ohio University officials have been working with employee groups and health care providers to formulate a new benefits plan design that will allow the university to slow the rate of cost increases to the employee health care plan. The proposed new plan is designed to provide some enhanced benefits and offers an Open Choice Preferred Provider Organization option, which would reduce cost and avoid the paperwork associated with traditional health care claims processing.

"No union promise can reduce the cost of health care benefits. Benefits costs are controlled by good plan design, managed care and wise usage of our health care benefit. Health care costs are increasing because of pressures from cost shifting by the government, other managed care plans and medical inflation. These are not factors that a union can address," Conry said.

Kemper added, "We are sensitive to the need to help reduce the cost impact on lower income levels, and the Benefits Advisory Committee is working on that problem with Human Resources staff and the Classified Staff Advisory Council."

Ohio University has always consulted employees and maintained excellent wages and benefits, said Joyce Predmore, assistant director of University Human Resources for benefits.

"The cost of health care is a serious issue, and we can only address it by working together," she said.