As some of you may have already heard the monthly contribution rate for an employees H&W (Currently $198) is set to rise to approximately $228 on July 1, 2016. 

Why? The BLET National Contract from 2012 (see contracts resource page) froze the H&W employee contribution rate until June 30, 2016 at which time the contribution rate could rise the lesser of 15% of the current rate, or to $230. Since the 15% is actually the "lesser" of the two $198 we currently pay x 15%(.15)= $29.70 + $198= $227.70.

While there are some that criticize the fact that such contributions have risen, realize also the H&W costs have risen in all other industries as well, not just the rail industry, and that we've been shielded by the contract from stepped increases the past 3 years.

Ed. Note: With the risk of editorializing here, the easy way out is to blame the Union but until we start asking ourselves why H&W costs in general (not just OUR contribution, which is driven by overall costs) continue to rise at such astronomical rates, and get to the crux of THAT issue, "blaming the Union" is exactly that "the easy way out". Think about it, why does it cost $40 for a single asprin in a hospital stay? Why does your prescription for your or your families meds cost $300 for a 30 day supply, remembering we're shielded from that overall cost by our co-pay, yet the same medicine just across the border in Canada costs $100 with that same or no co-pay to the employee? Just examples of what we need to ask, before we place blame somewhere.