A new coalition of health-and-welfare plans, determined to improve the value of health benefits for union workers, will hold its first conference Sept. 25. A range of building trades, retail and industrial unions and employers is involved.

The Upper Midwest Labor/Management Healthcare Coalition was organized in August by 15 multi-employer health and welfare funds representing 40,000 members. The coalition expects to represent 100,000 members by the end of the year, and to expand its scope beyond the Twin Cities.

The goal is that by acting together, the group can exercise more leverage, fight the skyrocketing costs of health care, and get better health insurance for the money for union workers.

The coalition's initial goal is to share "best practices" to improve the efficiency and administration of plans. That is the topic of the conference Sept. 25 from 7:30-11 a.m. at the Machinists Labor Temple, 1399 Eustis Ave., St. Paul.

It then expects to examine group buying for dental, vision and pharmaceutical services before moving on to broader managed-care purchasing. For information on the coalition, call executive director J.B. "Sean" Kenney, 612-722-4202.

This article was written for the Sept. 12, 2001, issue of The Union Advocate newspaper. Used by permission. The Union Advocate is the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@mtn.org