Members of the Baltimore County police union voted overwhelmingly to reject a county health care package that gradually increases employees? contributions, officials said Thursday.
Fraternal Order of Police president Cole Weston said he delivered a letter Thursday to county labor commissioner George Gay requesting the parties return to the bargaining table after 98 percent of members voted against the package earlier this week.
The package ? collectively negotiated by all the county?s unions ? includes gradual cost increases for existing employees over the next five years and immediate higher costs for new employees.
The effect of the union?s rejection on other unions who have accepted the package is unclear, Weston said.
“If we were able to successfully reopen negotiations and they made modifications to their last proposal, which would cause me to take it out to another vote, would they stay consistent with the other labor groups?” Weston said.
Calls to Gay and others authorized to speak on behalf of the county were not returned by press time.
The health care package ? part of sweeping cost-cutting proposals that include drastic changes to the county?s pension system ? increases costs for HMO participants from 3 percent to 10 percent and from 15 percent to 20 percent for Blue Cross/Blue Shield customers.
Three of the county?s bargaining units have accepted the health care package and proposed changes to the pension system, most notably an extension of the minimum retirement age from 60 to 65 for existing employees and to 67 for future employees.
The county chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is slated to vote on ratification Monday. The county?s 1,700-member Federation of Public Employees chapter voted Thursday, but results were not available by press time.
Lawmakers have questioned the legality of including about 430 former employees who kept money vested in the system in the changes. Councilman John Olszewski Sr., D-District 7, said he sent a letter to County Attorney John Beverungen seeking clarification.
He said future action hinges on the FPE vote.
“If they ratify, the issues go away,” Olszewski said.
