Dealing with benefits issues:
grievances, not “appeals.” (a true story)
Posted: September 27, 2011
Recently, a Free Press asked to drop her health insurance coverage and stop the insurance payroll deduction. The employee made inquiries to Detroit Media Partnership Human Resources. Human Resource passed the buck and directed the employee to contact the “Gannett Benefits Center.” The Gannett Benefits Center told the employee she could not drop coverage and stop paying for it. The employee complained again to DMP Human Resources, which passed the buck again and told her to file an “appeal” within the Gannett Benefits Center.
Unfortunately, what should have been a routine procedural matter turned into a Byzantine journey into the bureaucracy of Gannett without a satisfactory resolution. What’s worse, the Free Press and DMP Human Resources have abdicated responsibility for administering employee benefits provided in Guild collective bargaining agreements.
The Guild filed a grievance concerning this new restriction on dropping coverage and this new requirement that the employee file an “appeal” within Gannett. In the Guild’s view, these new requirements violate of our contracts with the News, O&E and DMP, as well as the Free Press.
“Appeals” within Gannett are a very slippery slope. We have no idea what the appeals process is, where appeals go, who decides them, or what the criteria are. We have no confidence in the process. It defies logic and common sense that one Gannet employee will overrule another.
Most importantly, we do not recognize the jurisdiction of the Gannett Benefits Office to decide issues concerning our contract benefits. Those issues will be decided, if need be, through our grievance and arbitration procedure.
The Guild urges all represented employees to contact the DMP Human Resources office regarding questions or complaints concerning your wages and benefits. If the Human Resources office does not resolve the issue or refers you to the Gannett Benefits Center, call the Guild office at 1-313-963-4254 or e-mail lou@detroitguild22.com. If your issue is governed by our collective bargaining agreements, we will take action to enforce our agreements. DO NOT FILE “APPEALS” WITHOUT GETTING ADVICE.
