Nassau County CSEA members fear losing health insurance

Union leaders and the Nassau County executive are pointing fingers at one another as Jan. 1 deadline looms.

Kurt Semder

Oct 21, 2024, 9:49 PM

Updated 65 days ago

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Members of Nassau County's civil service union are at risk of losing their health insurance at the end of the year, unless action is taken.
CSEA union leaders negotiated a new contract with Nassau County in August 2023 that included changing their members' health plan. However, that plan has since been canceled by the state, leaving its members in limbo.
Union leadership is blaming Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, saying that he plans to remove the union from NYSHIP and force them into a high-deductible plan.
Blakeman tells News 12 that it was the state who canceled the plan, and that union leaders have refused to come to the table to negotiate a new health plan.
Meanwhile, union members showed up at the County Legislative building Monday, saying they only found out about the canceled plan recently, and they're worried about losing their coverage.
The county executive says he will present three options to union leadership and give them the opportunity to choose which is best for their members. If they don't, he will choose a plan for them to ensure that members do not lose health care coverage come January 2025.
News 12 reached out to CSEA for this story and so far, it has declined to comment.
News 12 has learned about a change in leadership at CSEA Local 830. President Ron Gurrieri and Vice President Bob Arciella have been ousted from their respective roles, according to the CSEA president.
News 12 was told administrators from the regional CSEA are stepping in and will help navigate the health care insurance process.