Not sure if this is the right place to ask [View All]

[yasmina27]

Mods, please move if you feel it more appropriate elsewhere.

Our union is currently in negotiations with our employer (a public school district). We have been working w/o a contract since June. One of the issues is, like everywhere, employee contribution to health care. Currently we pay nothing - it is a "hidden" part of our compensation. We know, realistically, that virtually everyone else has to pay something toward their health benefits.

My husband, however, says that it is to everyone's benefit for us to take a lower salary increase but for the district to continue paying our benefits for tax reasons. Whatever we have to pay toward our health care, we have to pay tax on, they have to match retirement benefits on, etc. Essentially, it's a win-win situation for them to pay for it, and lose-lose on anything we have to contribute.

Sounds right to me. However, my concern is that if it makes so much sense, why is he the only one who ever thought of it? Surely there must be something we haven't taken in consideration, or there would be other situations where this come up. What are we missing?

Any opinions?