Swampscott unions, retirees will decide fate of GIC proposal

SWAMPSCOTT – Town officials are waiting for unions to vote on whether to join the Group Insurance Commission, which allows municipalities to buy discounted health insurance.
selectmen approved A proposal from the Public Employees Commission Monday morning and now
selectmen and Town Administrator Andrew Maylor are waiting for the unions to vote on whether to adopt the GIC.
Maylor informed the PEC representatives that given the holiday schedule and the Dec. 1 deadline to join the GIC the agreement would need to be signed no later than 10 a.m. Wednesday so unions are scrambling to allow voting to take place in time to sign the agreement if their unions vote in favor.
Swampscott Education Association President Paul Maguire said SEA members would be voting on whether to adopt the GIC today and the union leadership is recommending members vote in favor. In order for the town to join the GIC the state requires a 70 percent favorable vote. The state gives each union a weighted vote so if the SEA, which holds 59 percent of the voting weight, votes down the GIC it would be impossible for it to pass no matter how the other unions and retirees voted.
William Wollerscheid, who represents the retirees, said he is 90 percent sure the retirees would accept the agreement.
The state gives retirees a 10 percent vote and the other unions get a percentage of the vote based on membership. Police and fire each have 8 percent and the remaining five unions have 4 percent or less.
The Swampscott Police Association is voting today and expects to have the results available early this evening. A representative for the Swampscott firefighters said members are discussing it today and discussing how to proceed.
Town Hall Clerical, DPW, school custodians and school clerical combined have 14 percent of the vote and are voting today. Procurement Officer Cheryl Levenson said the results for those four unions would be available Wednesday morning.
The town currently picks up 60 percent of the cost of health insurance premiums for town employees and retirees. According to Maylor the proposal would increase the percentage of health insurance premiums the town pays to 62.5 percent in the first year of the contract, 65 percent in the second year, 67.5 percent in the third year and 70 percent of the premiums in the remaining three years of the six-year contract.