SEIU contract
TO THE EDITOR: The SEIU United Health-care ratification contract vote was held on Oct. 29, 2011. Happy New Year!
For most of us who work under the SEIU contract, the new health-care insurance with the high deductible has changed the way we use health care. Medical goods and services are generally viewed as necessities, but with high deductibles, many people are forgoing them. This is happening throughout the United States.
A lot of the SEIU employees say there is nothing they can do about the high costs. I know that we cannot change the contract, but we must get together now and make sure we are informed about what our contract says and means for us before we vote next time. We could of come up with ideas like, maybe four free visits a year to our doctor or make our deductible spread out over a few months, not first of the year. Maybe others have suggestions.
Please let me know, we need a meeting to come up with ideas and to be proactive in our next contract.
Our union costs have gone up, but the communication has gone down. Most people are busy with their lives and do not have the time to get involved. I say, we cannot afford to not be proactive. We need to start now, take it slow and talk things through.
Maybe we can't change the health-care insurance, but we can come up with ideas to make it more customer-friendly.
REBECCA DROLLETTE
West Chazy
Wellness Center
TO THE EDITOR: The Wellness Center at PARC will have a new management, and three people will lose their jobs.
The Wellness Center attracts people of all ages — Clinton Community College students who exercise and play basketball, young people who come to swim and work out in the exercise rooms and people of an older age who come to exercise and salvage what remains of their bodies.
The staff includes a very capable and well-educated manager, a wonderful fitness director and a very capable membership director. Why are they losing their jobs? Because CVPH is hiring a new company to direct the center, and the former company does not want their "secrets" divulged to the incoming company.
In this day of economic downturns, three people will lose their jobs to protect a company. When asked what secrets might be divulged, one of the managers gave me a blank look.
Moreover, why isn't the administration of CVPH protecting the team that has grown this Wellness Center and capably built up the membership? Why are three very capable employees losing their jobs for reasons of administrative convenience rather than professional ability and effort?
Bette and Edward Brohel
Plattsburgh
Family grateful
TO THE EDITOR: The family of Loretta Agoney would like to thank everyone for everything they did to help our father and ourselves to get us through this emotional time, from food to cards, donations to Hospice.
The Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary of Keeseville for the reception at the hall.
To all the North Country square dancers for their support.
To Hospice for their love and care of our mom.
To Pastor Edie Poland for the beautiful service of remembrance and celebration for our mom.
To Neil Hamilton and his staff for all they did to make everything easier for all of us and our dad.
To all of our family and friends, thank you all for your love and support.
Thank you and God bless.
HELEN AGONEY
Peru
