Thursday, May 20, 1999
Nye urges scrapping proposal
Insurance plan upset union
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Mayor Tom Nye has asked fellow city council members to consider dumping a proposal that raised union workers' ire.
Council last week gave the first of three readings to an ordinance that would cap insurance premiums for council members — a proposal union leaders interpreted as a sneaky way for council to set the stage for forcing union workers to accept a similar plan.
About 80 union workers and their leaders filled council chambers to overflowing last Wednesday.
“My suggestion would be that we scrap the ordinance,” Mr. Nye said during a special meeting Monday morning. “I don't want anybody to bring it back ever again.”
He handed out a copy of a resolution that would set a goal: maintaining a health care premium cost “not to exceed 103 percent of the preceding year's expenditures.”
Council agreed to consider that resolution, although City Manager Stephen E. Sorrell and other council members questioned whether any further council action is needed on the health-care matter.
“The message has been clearly sent: Control health care costs,” Mr. Sorrell said.
Councilman George McNally said he was concerned that union leaders would view Mr. Nye's proposed resolution as an attempt to “save face.” He also said collective bargaining is under Mr. Sorrell's purview. “Why don't we let the city manager work it out?” he asked.
Mr. McNally cast the sole dissenting vote against considering the mayor's proposed resolution.
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