IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FOR USCEA FOUND HERE!
On this page, users will find all sick bank, by-law, and contract documents.
Finally—it’s President-elect Biden
Patience—counseled by former Vice President Joe Biden all election week as Americans waited for votes to be counted—finally paid off Nov. 7, four days after Election Day, when Biden won in Pennsylvania and gained enough Electoral College votes to acquire a new title: president-elect. AFT President Randi Weingarten says the union’s leaders and members “can’t wait to get started” on the work ahead “with an administration that will embrace and fight for the values we hold dear.”
Your vote is your voice
AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest column outlines the urgency of using our voices—our votes—in this life-changing election, when we will make a choice “between President Donald Trump, who has trafficked in chaos, fear, lies and division, and former Vice President Joe Biden, who seeks to reverse Trump’s failures on COVID-19 and the economy, and to unite and uplift the American people.” Besides the four crises we face—a pandemic, an economic crisis, racism and a climate emergency—democracy itself is on the ballot, as Trump continues to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election.
‘Back to school’ like never before
In her September New York Times column, AFT President Randi Weingarten says that going back to school has never looked like it does now. Weingarten explains that because of President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus, which has been chaotic, contradictory and inept, and the lack of federal guidance and funding, we’re seeing a patchwork of school reopening plans across the country.
Healthcare Updates and Information
We are in the Highmark High Performing Narrow Network of Services under the Community Blue EPO and PPO plans. This means some UPMC Hospitals will be out-of-network. Some Highmark/UPMC Joint Ventures Hospitals will be in network.
UPMC Children’s Hospital and Western Psych will remain in network until 2029. There are also some other key agreements that are agreed to during this 10-year period. Members will have access to Emergency Rooms without having to worry about being balanced billed for whatever their insurer wouldn’t pay. Also, specific conditions that are considered rare where only UPMC has a specialist (ex. Cystic Fibrosis), will be covered under this agreement. However it is essential that it is confirmed that Highmark will cover said specialist.
Please see the links below for clarification on your particular needs.
High Performing Network F.A.Q.s
In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Letter
Bill raising teachers' salaries stalled
A push to raise the state's minimum teacher salary has become a bipartisan effort, but it appears to not be enough to ensure a key piece of Gov. Tom Wolf's budget proposal will make it into the final version of the spending document.