Part-Time City Workers Eligible for Health Benefits
San Francisco Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday announced that health insurance benefits will be extended to 1,200 to 1,500 part-time city workers who are members of the Service Employees International Union, the San Francisco Examiner reports.
City and SEIU negotiators reached a tentative agreement on Monday to provide health benefits for "as needed" workers (Martin, San Francisco Examiner, 6/14). Such workers include health workers, library aides and custodians.
The benefit is expected to cost as much as $4.5 million over the next three years (Vega, San Francisco Chronicle, 6/14).
A working group comprising six city representatives and six union representatives will determine by April 2007 which workers are eligible for the coverage. The group will hold its first meeting before Aug. 1.
San Francisco Department of Human Resources Director Phil Ginsburg said if the agreement is successful, the benefits could be extended to part-time workers in other unions.
Newsom also said he will make a "historic" announcement within two weeks with Supervisor Tom Ammiano about plans for a universal health insurance system (San Francisco Examiner, 6/14).