The quality of workers’ benefits has a huge influence on their well‐being. At bargaining tables across the country, benefits are under attack. Faced with large increases in health costs, employers are demanding concessions in existing benefits. In collaboration with insurance companies, they are developing new and creative ways to erode benefit plans.

The major reason group benefit plans work, is that healthy people help provide coverage for healthy people. No one knows when we might be the “not so healthy”. Paying for benefits now, ensures they are available when we need them. Group coverage also has the advantage provided by “economies of scale”‐ costs are cheaper when spread across a large group.

This Bargaining Benefit Kit is designed to provide information that can help staff and members better understand employers’ benefits proposals, defend benefits plans, and offer constructive and more “employee friendly” alternatives to employer cost‐saving proposals. 

Download the complete overview fact sheet.