03/27/2022
Day #4 at Fair State Brewing Cooperative with my MN Benefits information!
Considering the circumstances, I opted for a truncated set up instead of the lovely table from the past few days. Although the tentative agreement does look like it will pass, the strike is not over until the official results are announced, so I’m at the end of the bar with my sign and my business cards.
Reflecting on the news reports, posts and conversations, it’s very evident to me that the District weaponized the potential loss of health benefits and used it as a bargaining chip against the educators. The reality is that coverage would have been available to the strikers after April 1st, either a short time on a public program, a low-premium subsidized individual/family plan, or even transitioning to Medicare were all viable options for coverage. I wish that was more widely-known and offered to the educators. I’m happy that a resolution has been found, but I wonder how the negotiations could have been different if the strikers had known that they had options for alternative coverage to get through a longer work stoppage.
The next time I hear a strike is on in the area, I’ll make sure to reach out to the strikers right away, so thank you MPS educators for teaching me that lesson. I’m so grateful to Fair State for giving me the space these past four days to talk, connect with and drink beer with our wonderful community. Cheers! 🙂
