The following chart shows the yearly increases to M-N employees which are co-paying for their medical under the Empire Family plan since 1993.

1993- First year Mgt. starts paying health insurance. $324per year.
1994- No increase                            (  0% )
1995- No increase                            (  0% )
1996- No increase                            (  0% )
1997- Insurance cost per year $717    ( 121% increase)
1998- Insurance cost per year $979    (  36%  increase)
1999- Insurance cost per year $1046  (  07%  increase)
2000- Insurance cost per year $1193  (  14%  increase)
2001- Insurance cost per year $1338  (  24%  increase)
2002- Insurance cost per year $1488  (  11%  increase)
2003- Insurance cost per year $1686  (  13%  increase)
2004  Insurance cost per year $1979  (  17%  increase)

Did ACRE officers ever bother to research the past, concerning the costs and the double digit increases to the medical plans before they made it part of their agreement for the MTA Defined Benefit Pension Plan?  If they did concern themselves with this information, why was this information not made part of the ratification package?  How can they explain their reasoning for the following language concerning the premium cost of this health insurance plan for all new employees "All new employees hired after full and final ratification of this Agreement will contribute to the premium cost of the health insurance plan at the same rate paid by Metro-North management employees, INCLUDING FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS".    These simple three words, INCLUDING FUTURE ADJUSMENTS, will erode our new hires paychecks totally away over their careers.

Maybe they should explain how they determined this cost to be only 1% of the benefit package.  Did ACRE officers ever look towards the future concerning these double digit medical co-payment increases and the effects it would have on the new hires?  Why do our new hires co-pay the same rate for their medical as M-N management, pay all future adjustments concerning their medical co-payments as M-N management, yet they do not receive the lifetime medical benefit as M-N management? 

As usual, they just do not care about anyone behind them.  They got theirs.  Remember what they wrote concerning opening the door for medical co-payments in the future for all current ACRE employees.  "NO, IT IS OUR POSITION THAT IT CLOSES THE DOOR.    THE CARRIER'S STATED GOAL HAD BEEN TO GET A CO-PAY ON HEALTH AND WELFARE PAYMENTS.  THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR GOAL BY RECEIVING PAYMENTS FROM NEW HIRES IN A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT."  This statement was approved and signed off by all five ACRE General Chairman in supporting this ACRE pension deal.