Pocono News Section

Scranton Teachers Forced To Stomach Nosebleed Healthcare Premiums

Scranton Teachers Forced To Stomach Nosebleed Healthcare Premiums - Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:40PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007 @10:40pm EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Scranton teachers say they're being socked with skyrocketing health care premiums. Another increase was announced Friday.

Hundreds of educators protested Wednesday evening, showing their disgust with district administrators. Most teachers haven't seen a raise in years. Health care costs have outpaced income increases. Teachers say it's a real kick in the stomach.

400 educators lapped the school district administration building. Out in the cold, over icy sidewalks, 405 teacher, to be exact, marched. They want administrators to know they're stomaching unbearable health care costs.

"We need to put a face on the issue. We want people to know, that we have families and costs," Jerry Baldauff told WBRE News.

One cost that has been certain, according to the teacher's union, is nosebleed health care contributions. They continue to rise and teachers say they're going under because of them.

"I don't take home enough to buy groceries. What do you do? Where do you go?" Michelle Cunningham, a teacher's aid, asked.

"I'm a new teacher and I was only hired last year. I think it's ridiculous what they're doing to us. We work hard," teacher Lisa Rescigno said.

On Friday, educators learned they'd be paying more to maintain their insurance.

Some are already paying $8 thousand annually.

The union launched demands at Wednesday evening's school board meeting. Board members reportedly approved the latest in a round of increases that teachers contend is taxing well-deserved incomes.

Teacher Joe Voyt, health care costs have deflated his income. Working in Scranton is no longer an option for Voyt.

"I find myself taking home less and less each year," Voyt said.