GFPP-WB ARCHIVE

February 26th, 2008
Todd has 2 new Medco news posting on the News page. One good, one not so good. Check it out.

February 15th, 2008
There is a new posting on the WRC page. Please check out the agenda our committee presented to management and managements response. There is a posting of the new signing up for overtime policy on the FAQ page. Please review to avoid any loss of being scheduled for overtime when it is available.

February 08, 2008

New FMLA Rules to Be Proposed February 11

The U.S. Department of Labor says it will publish a proposal on February 11 to update its regulations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The department says that the proposal would help workers and their employers better understand their rights and responsibilities, and speed the implementation of a new law that expands FMLA coverage for certain military family members.

"This proposal preserves workers' family and medical leave rights while improving the administration of FMLA by fostering better communication in the workplace," says Victoria A. Lipnic, assistant secretary for the Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration. "It also implements a law President Bush recently signed to extend family and medical leave to families of America's soldiers who are suffering serious illness or injury."

Proposed changes include increased notice obligations for employers so that employees will better understand their FMLA rights, while revising the employee notice rules to minimize workplace disruptions due to unscheduled FMLA absences.

The department says the proposal will also contain technical changes to reflect decisions by the Supreme Court and lower courts. A new section addresses recently enacted legislation to expand the FMLA entitlement to 26 workweeks for certain military family members caring for a service member with a serious illness or injury.

For years, employers have been lobbying for changes to FMLA rules and waiting for the department to publish revised regulations. In December 2006, the department did publish a Request for Information, seeking comments about on a series of questions covering intermittent FMLA leave, the definition of "eligible employee" under FMLA, the definition of "serious health condition" under FMLA, leave determinations/medical certifications, and other FMLA topics.

The department released a report in June 2007 based on the more than 15,000 comments it received, saying the comments highlight that unscheduled intermittent leave is the single most serious area of friction between employers and workers.

"It's time to update these regulations--to reflect court decisions, clear up ambiguities and address issues that weren't contemplated when the regulations were first issued in 1995," said Lipnic. "This proposal is the result of a thoughtful, careful process that included a Request for Information with 15,000 public comments in 2006, many conversations with stakeholders, and the department's experience in administering and enforcing the law."

The department invites comment on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will be published in the Federal Register on February 11.

FEB 1ST, 2007

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW — 1/31/08

Labor Department submits proposed FMLA regs for OMB review

The Department of Labor has drafted a set of proposed regulations in an attempt to clarify ambiguous aspects of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), partly in response to employer complaints about the difficulty of administering the Act. The DOL delivered the regulations to the Office of Management and Budget for review on January 24 in hopes of publishing them for comment within the next few weeks.

Employers hope the proposed regulations address what they describe as employee abuse of the system. To this end, the regulations likely will clarify the definition of serious health condition, which employers say has led to significant confusion. The rules also may require tighter employee notification requirements to deter unscheduled, intermittent leave. In addition, the revisions are likely to modify medical certification and verification requirements. The Labor Department identified those as key issues among employers in a June 2007 report.

Employee groups lobbied the department to expand the Act and are worried the proposed regulations may have the opposite effect. "We are gravely concerned that these new regulations will restrict the protections workers have relied on for nearly 15 years--protections they need now more than ever, with the economy in trouble and families struggling," stated Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families.

Under the FMLA, employers with 50 or more employees must grant workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for an ailing family member or to take medical leave from work for a serious medical condition.

Pending FMLA expansion. The Labor Department reportedly is drafting separate new rules that represent the first expansion of the FMLA since it was enacted in 1993. Under a defense bill (H.R. 4986) recently approved by Congress and expected to be signed by President Bush, family members of recovering servicemembers will become eligible to receive up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave from work. The expansion of the Act also would entitle spouses, children, or parents of servicemembers who are on active duty or preparing to deploy to take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave.

Bush signs FMLA military expansion bill

Posted On: Jan. 29, 2008 8:55 AM CST

WASHINGTON—President Bush on Monday signed into law legislation that expands Family and Medical Leave Act coverage for family members of employees called for military service.

The expansion, included in a broader Department of Defense spending measure, requires employers to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to employees when a spouse, child or parent is on active duty or is called up for active duty. Leave could be for any “exigency” as defined by regulations to be drafted by the Labor Department.

Additionally, the new law allows employees who are the spouses, children, parents or next of kin of a servicemember to take up to 26 weeks of leave under the FMLA to care for the servicemember who incurred an injury during military service when that injury results in the servicemember being unable to perform his or her duties.

The expansion is the first for the 1993 law, which requires employers to allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave after the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a sick child, parent or spouse or when an employee has a serious illness.

Millions of employees each year take leave under the FMLA.

Jan 26th, 2007
Erick and the lads apologize. One of them, and they won't say who, forgot to turn the mainframe back on for the options calculator. It should be working fine now. If anyone sees a problem with the site please e-mail me since Erick and the lads have a weekend of Dungeons & Dragons planned.

Jan 25th, 2007
Erick Braun and the lads in the guild MIS department worked diligently thru the night to up date the Options Estimator to reflect todays MHS stock split. Those of us who have trouble multiplying/dividing by 2 say "Danke schön, ist dir gut gelungen".

Jan 24th, 2007
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is stepping into the lucrative pharmacy-benefits arena, in a move likely to shake up a field that has been dominated by just a handful of players. Read the story (2 articles) in the news section.

Jan 15th, 2007
Medco has picked up another account. Read about it on the News page. Thank you Todd for sending it in. I fixed a problem with some of the e-mail addresses. Mark everything should be delivered now!

I shill again !!!!!!!
Larry Levin's daughter Lisa has launched a web based business venture . I have got to say I am a little jealous. Lisa has done a very good job on her web site. It is very easy to use and fun to look at. She has made gift giving very easy. Her site has a lot of great gift ideas plus you save time and gas not having to drive to the stores. Larry hopes you can take moment to log on and take a look . Whatever small assistance you can lend will go a long way in making this a successful business. The web address is : http://www.someonespoilme.com

DEC 30th, 2007
Social Security Ceiling to rise in 2008 (via HR Workways)
Social Security Wage Base Increases to $102,000 in 2008
T he Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that the 2008 social security wage base will be $102,000.

The FICA tax rate, which is the combined social security tax rate of 6.2% and the Medicare tax rate of 1.45%, remains at 7.65% for 2008. The maximum social security tax employees and employers will each pay in 2008 is $6,324.00. As in prior years, there is no limit to the wages subject to the Medicare tax; therefore, all covered wages are still subject to the 1.45% tax.
Thur, OCT 4th, 2007

Featured Story October 2, 2007

Wal-Mart's $4 Generic Drug Program Has Had Little, if Any, Impact on Health Plans

Reprinted from DRUG BENEFIT NEWS, biweekly news, data and business strategies for health plans, PBMs and pharmaceutical companies.

When Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. launched its headline-grabbing $4 generic drug program a year ago, some industry observers predicted the retail Goliath would shake up the $230 billion prescription-drug industry. One theory held that as pharmaceutical payers came to realize just how cheap generics were, they would demand that PBMs and pharmacies squeeze out the hefty margins they earn on the sales of generic products. One year later, most industry analysts agree Wal-Mart's program has had little, if any, effect on third-party payers — other than to boost awareness of the value of generics.

"What ultimately became evident is that this is really targeted to the cash-paying world," says Kemp Dolliver, managing director at securities firm Cowen and Company, LLC.

Among other things, the program has not drawn people away from health plans that already offer low copayments on generic drugs, Dolliver says. "In many cases, if you have a $5 generic copay, it is unlikely you're going to shift for a buck," he tells DBN. "If you had $4 for a group of drugs where everyone was paying $15 or $20 out of pocket? Yeah, by all means, but that just wasn't the case."

Wal-Mart launched its program Sept. 21, 2006, in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. The program offered $4 generics for a 30-day supply of more than 290 drugs, including those in common therapeutic categories such as allergies, cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. The program quickly expanded nationwide, and now includes 331 generic drugs comprised of 143 compounds in 26 therapeutic categories.

Program Benefits Uninsured

Wal-Mart estimates that the list of $4 generics represents more than 25% of prescriptions now dispensed in its pharmacies nationwide. The company also said that its customers have saved roughly $350 million on the generic drugs since September 2006, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Furthermore, almost 30% of the prescriptions are purchased by customers without health insurance, the paper reported.

Lisa Gill, a securities analyst at JP Morgan Chase & Co., says the Wal-Mart program was never a competitive threat to PBMs. "At the end of the day, 93% of prescriptions that are filled are paid by a third party. That really only leaves the other 7% not paid by a third party. It is really the cash-paying customer that is the most concerned with this."

Gill and Dolliver also agree that the Wal-Mart generics program has had a particularly limited impact in large metropolitan areas, such as New York City and Boston, where Wal-Mart stores often are not convenient to many people. "It is going to cost money," Dolliver says of the need for many urbanites to drive to the suburbs to get a prescription filled at Wal-Mart.

Program Raised Awareness of Generics

While the program initially generated excitement among pharmaceutical payers, Dolliver says that by the turn of the year, benefit consultants "were not looking at this as the world's greatest opportunity to beat up people over rates."

Still, that's not to say the program hasn't had any effect on plans. Sean Brandle, vice president at benefits consulting firm Segal Co., says the impact was primarily an increased awareness on the part of plan sponsors and members regarding the actual costs of these medications. "Plan sponsors have realized that their copayments for generic drugs may be set at too high a level ($5 to $15) and are beginning to look closely at plan data in order to determine the ideal amount," he tells DBN.

And plans themselves see the publicity on generics as a positive. "I think the $4 programs are great for the industry," says Eric Culley, Pharm.D., manager of clinical pharmacy services at Highmark Blue Shield. "Overall, these programs have helped to lower the cost of drug therapy, while advocating the tremendous value of generics."

One of the country's largest PBMs, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., also welcomed the Wal-Mart program for similar reasons. "The Wal-Mart generics program instantly raised national awareness about the benefits of low-cost generics, and provided Medco the opportunity to reinforce with its clients and members the efficacy, safety and savings of generic medication, especially through its mail-order pharmacy network," says Medco spokeswoman Jennifer Luddy.

Other retailers, including Target Corp., have matched the $4 prescriptions. Some chains, however, have backed off of their $4 commitments recently. For example, Publix Super Markets, a chain of grocery stores in the Southeast, last month discontinued its $4 generics program, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., founder and president of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., says the Wal-Mart strategy was never designed to restructure the entire health care system. "Wal-Mart really was trying to improve the utilization and efficiency of its in-store pharmacies," he tells DBN. "The biggest impact of this program has been on Wal-Mart itself. The first four months of the program last year increased total prescriptions per pharmacy by about 15%," Fein says, based on Wal-Mart's own figures.

Thur, SEPT 27th, 2007

Subject: BREAKING NEWS...CVSCAREMARK CLOSES AZ MAIL OPERATION...............

CVS CAREMARK YESTERDAY HAS ANNOUNCED TO ITS EMPLOYEES THAT IT WILL BE CLOSING ITS COTTON CENTER MAIL OPERATIONS IN PHOENIX…..THE MAIL COLLECTION FACILITY KNOW AS “THE ROCK”, THE MAIL OPERATION “FRONT-END” AND THE MAIL OPERATION “BACK-END” THAT WAS RAMPED UP IN 2004 TO SERVICE THE FEP ACCOUNT WILL CLOSE ITS DOORS JANUARY 1^ST 2008……..

Thur, SEPT 20th, 2007
We came to an agreement on schedules.The final version of schedules for rebid are posted in The Stewards Speak section of the member area. You will need your password and user ID to access the information.

Wed, SEPT 5th, 2007
Schedule announcements in The Stewards Speak section of the member area. You will need your password and user ID to access the information.

Thursday, Aug 23rd, 2007

ATTENTION G.F.P.P. PHARMACISTS

SEPTEMBER MARKS THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR FILING VACATION TIME REQUESTS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND; THE CONTRACT LANGAUGE STIPULATES “ALL VACTION TIME MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN THE ANNIVERSARY YEAR TO WHICH IT RELATES”. AN ANNIVERSARY YEAR IS NOT A CALENDAR YEAR!

FOR EXAMPLE; LET US SAY YOU ARE A PHARMACIST WITH TWO WEEKS VACATION TIME (80 HOURS) ALOTED TO YOUR TIME BANK AND YOUR ANNIVERSARY DATE IS JUNE 1 ^ST. IN SEPTEMBER 2007, YOU MUST SUBMITT YOUR VACATION TIME (ALL 80 HOURS) REQUEST FOR SOMETIME BETWEEN OCTOBER 16, 2007 (THE DAY AFTER THE COMPANY IS CONTRACTUALY OBLIGATED TO RETURN YOUR REQUEST) AND MAY 31, 2008 TO INSURE ALL YOUR VACATION TIME IS DEDUCTED FROM YOUR MOST CURRENT TIME BANK. IF YOU SUBMIT FOR VACATION TIME IN SEPTEMBER 2007 FOR DAYS BETWEEN JUNE 1, 2008 AND DECEMBER 31, 2008, THOSE HOURS WILL DEDUCTED FROM YOUR TIME BANK ALOTMENT GRANTED ON JUNE 1, 2008. IF YOU HAD SUBMITED FOR 40 HOURS BEFORE JUNE 1, 2008 AND 40 HOURS AFTER JUNE 1, 2008, IN THIS SCENARIO, YOU WOULD HAVE LOST 40 HOURS OF PAID VACATION TIME.

YOU CAN SUBMIT VACATION TIME REQUESTS IN SEPTEMBER 2007 FOR THE ENTIRE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2008, JUST KNOW, ALL APPROVED VACATION TIME TAKEN BEFORE YOUR ANNIVERSARY DATE WILL BE CREDITED TO YOUR TIME BANK AOLTMENT FOR YEAR 2007 AND APPROVED VACATION TIME TAKEN AFTER YOUR ANNIVERSARY DATE WILL BE CREDITED TO YOUR TIME BANK ALOTMENT FOR YEAR 2008.

SUBMIT YOUR VACATION TIME REQUESTS CAREFULLY AND WISELY. REMEMBER, IF YOU SUBMIT FOR VACATION TIME REQUESTS IN EXCESS OF TIME ALOTED TO YOU, YOUR REQUESTS WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU PRIOR TO BEING APPROVED. WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR REQUEST PLACE YOUR SENIORITY NUMBER ON THE TIME OFF REQUESTS AS WELL AS INDICATING IF IT IS A FULL WEEK VACATION REQUEST. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK A STEWARD.
Friday, Aug 17th, 2007
THERE IS A SURVEY ABOUT SCHEDULES IN THE MEMBER AREA. YOU WILL NEED YOUR USER ID AND PASSWORD. SELECT SURVEY FROM THE PULL DOWN MENU BEFORE YOU LOG IN.
Sunday, Aug 12th, 2007
Try this link for current Job postings in NJ.!
rxcareercenter
Tuesday, Aug 7th, 2007
More CE's added to the CE page today !
Tuesday, July 31th, 2007
Is there a Dress Down Day today ? Check the link above. It's a new feature.
Fridy, July 27th, 2007
New CE's added to the CE page today !
Sunday, July 23th, 2007

CMS to doctors: Stop using computer-generated faxes to send prescriptions

BY Nancy Ferris
Published on July 3, 2007 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing to revoke a rule that has allowed doctors sending prescriptions from their computers under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to use computer-generated faxes rather than digital data.

CMS does not require doctors to use e-prescribing, but when they generate and send Medicare Part D prescriptions electronically, they must comply with standards issued by the Department of Health and Human Services in November 2005, including the Script rule for transmissions.

The agency has allowed an exemption for computer-generated faxes since the e-prescribing rule took effect Jan. 1, 2006. However, it now has announced plans to eliminate that exemption as of Jan. 1, 2008.

“CMS expected that entities using computer-generated fax software would adopt the use of the Script standard over time, but this has not occurred to date,” according to a CMS fact sheet. “CMS expects the impact on prescribers to be minimal.”

Officials at SureScripts, an e-prescribing data exchange that links doctors with pharmacies, said the change would affect more than 150,000 doctors. Many of those doctors have software that would communicate digitally with pharmacies, but they have not been trained to use it or their computers have not been configured to use it, said Rick Ratliff, chief operating officer at SureScripts.

Often a doctor knows how to write a prescription on the computer and send it to a chosen pharmacy, but the doctor does not realize that the computer actually is creating and sending a fax, Ratliff said.

“The majority of electronic medical records systems do have the capability” to do e-prescribing transmissions that comply with the HHS standard, Ratliff said. He said vendors of the e-medical records or e-prescribing software need to make return visits to their customers and get them using true computer-to-computer communications.

The CMS fact sheet states that faxes received at a pharmacy must be entered manually into the pharmacy’s computer system, a step that takes time and can permit errors.

“With today’s announcement, [HHS] Secretary [Mike] Leavitt is delivering on his promise to use the federal government’s leverage as the nation’s largest health care insurer to promote health [information technology] adoption,” said Kevin Hutchinson, president and chief executive officer of SureScripts.

CMS is accepting comments on its proposed rule until Aug. 31.
Wdnesday, July 4th, 2007
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND GRIEVANCES FILED FOR
JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 2007
To view please log into Stewards Speak area to access.
Thursday, June 28th, 2007
There is a message from the steward team in the member area. Please log into the Stewards Speak to access.
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
There are a number of heads up notifications that the stewards need to comunicate to our membership. They will be posted in the member area. If you do not have a current password or have forgotten yours please email the site admin at RPHWB@YAHOO.com for replacement.

Why do we belong to a guild and have a CBA ? Here is a group of employees who do not. Don't ever think "it would never happen here" .
CLICK HERE to read the article. Wednesday, APRIL 7th, 2007

THE STEWARD TEAM IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) TO OUR CONTRACT WHICH ALLOWS THE CREATION OF A FULL-TIME PHARMACIST SHIFT CONSISTING OF A 32 HOUR WORK WEEK. HERE ARE SOME DETAILS REGARDING THIS SHIFT:

-IT IS A FULL-TIME POSITION
-THE SHIFT INCLUDES ALL BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH A FULL-TIME POSITION
-THERE IS NO AFFECT ON SENIORITY
-VACATION, PERSONAL AND SICK TIME WILL BE PRORATED
-MEDCO CONTROLS THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS TO BE CREATED AND WHAT SHIFTS WILL BE NEEDED

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE MOU . IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK YOUR STEWARD TEAM.
Wednesday, March 30th, 2007
Some gfpp "happings" in the news page!

Wednesday, March 28th, 2007

FOR ALL PHARMACISTS PLANNING TO ATTEND THE FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM SCHEDULED FOR 5/2/07, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR TIME OFF REQUESTS, WHETHER IT BE PAID OR UNPAID, TO LYNDA DOREMUS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

THE PHARMACIST'S CLOSED LID LUNCHEON WAS TERRIFIC! THANK YOU TO EVERY ONE WHO BROUGHT IN A DISH OF FOOD. SPECIAL THANK YOU GO OUT TO PAMELA, TERRI, JENEAN, NEETI, JEAN, DEEPA AND KEN B. FOR ORGANIZING ON THEIR SHIFTS.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING A RASH OF TAMPERING WITH THE COMPUTER IN THE GFPP CUBICLE. PLEASE REPORT TO A STEWARD IMMEDIATELY IF YOU SEE ANY PERSONS INSIDE THE GFPP CUBICLE WHO DO NOT BELONG THERE. THIS GOES FOR PHARMACISTS AS WELL AS NON-PHARMACISTS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION WITH THIS MATTER.

Oren Schaham, R.Ph.
Chief Steward, Guild for Professional Pharmacists
There will be a Live CE presented at Medco, Willingboro on Sunday, April 15th. It will be for 4 credits. Subject TBA. I will be updating the CE page in the next week. I have found a few new programs now that it is once again "C.E. season". rm. Social Security Wage Base Rises
Social Security Wage Base Rises
DEC. 31st, 2006

The Social Security Administration announced that the 2007 Social Security wage base is $97,500.00, up from $94,200.00 in 2006. The Social Security tax rate remains at 6.2%. Because of the new wage base, the maximum Social Security tax employees and employers can each pay in 2007 is $6,045.00, up from $5,840.40 in 2006.
The Medicare tax rate remains at 1.45%, and as before, there's no limit to the wages subject to the tax. The FICA tax rate (a combination of the Social Security tax rate and the Medicare tax rate) remains at 7.65%

Saturday, 10/7/06
New postings in the GFPP/Medco News Page today !!!
Thursday,10/05/06
ATTENTION ALL GFPP PHARMACISTS
WHEN SUBMITTING REQUEST FORMS FOR VACATION AND PERSONAL TIME OFF, PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON YOUR REQUEST FORMS:
-0 SENIORITY RANKING
-1 DATE OF HIRE
-2 IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING FOR A FULL WEEK OF VACATION TIME (40 HOURS ONLY), PLEASE WRITE: “FULL WEEK OFF”, ON YOUR REQUEST FORM
-3 IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING FOR 30 OR 32 HOURS OFF IN A PAY WEEK, BUT ARE WILLING TO WORK YOUR ROTATIONAL SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, PLEASE WRITE: “FULL WEEK OFF WILL WORK ROTATIONAL SATURDAY OR SUNDAY”, ON YOUR REQUEST FORM
YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU, THE STEWARD TEAM
Thursday,09/28/06
Per a meeting with Business Planning Department yesterday, all vacation requests for a full week should have it noted "full week" if submitting for less than 40 hours of vacation time. If submitting 30-32 hours, it should be notated "holiday week" or "Saturday rotation week" as well as "full week". If someone wants a full week in which a holiday and their Saturday both fall, they must still submit for 30-32 hours for it to be considered a full week per the MOU attached to the contract (include rotation day and cancel once approved-similar to how we have done it in the past). With the number of pharmacists on staff and now with a large number having 3 weeks vacation, business planning will have a large task in determining who is eligible for what and coordinating all of the variables. They agreed to reach out to us if they had any questions regarding the new selection process and eligibility of time off. Also, please do not put any unnecessary notes on the form, as they will not make a difference due to the selection being contractual. Lastly, if you are on a waiting list and want to schedule another day, you do not have to cancel the waiting list day. If the day becomes available you can go back and cancel the alternate you were approved for. Please see a Steward if you have any questions. We well monitor the process to make certain is it being done per contract guidelines and to ensure everyone is submitting the correct requests in regards to time available to them. I apologize for this being late. If you need to make adjustments please let us know. Joe
Wednesday, 09/27/06
AS A RESULT OF CONVERSATION HAD IN THE WORKING RELATIONS COMMITTEE, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, PHARMACISTS ONLY MAY TAKE THEIR LAB COATS HOME FOR LAUNDERING.
The Steward Team.

Tuesday,09/26/06
Vacation request are due by the end of this month. Get them in or miss the boat!!!! For full info CLICK HERE.

Monday, 09/25/06
Dear Colleagues
I attended the quarterly meeting of the Guild for Professionals Pharmacists Sunday, August 27 in LA. Oren has our seat on the GFPP board but has sent one of the stewards to represent us at the board meetings.
Meeting opened with a reading of the minutes from the last meeting held in May 2006. Next a review of financials was reported by Guild Treasurer, Ron Astor. The Guild has a over 3 million dollars in funds. The board had discussion on changes in how there would be some changes in how the funds would be invested. I asked the board to fund our local web site(under a $100.00/ year) and they agreed .
There was discussion of what was upcoming with Medco Las Vegas Negotiations. There was discussion of the Medco Spokane joining the Guild. Next each member was called upon to review any items coming up or past in their respective districts. This included the former Sav-On unit which is now CVS. Some spoke about upcoming contract negotiations, Next was a discussion of pending or past grievance's at the various groups. When my turn came to report, I basically fielded of questions. The board impressed by the way the stewards solve our own problems here in Wilingboro.
Finally a discussion took place about new groups and the possible need to break up in to locals. One for So. Cal and L.V., one for Northern Cal. and one for the East Coast. There may be another unit from Pennsylvania in the near future. The board saw no reason to raise dues at this time. The next board meeting will be November 12th, 2006
Rick Madelaine

Thursday, 09/14/06
The GFPP and MEDCO are in negotiations at the Nevada Dispensing Pharmacy (NDP) . The up dates can be found at:
GFPP Medco LV Page
Wednesday, 09/13/06
There are 3 posts from the stewards in the member area today. If you do not have a user id apply today !!!!!
Here is a nice chart about how ePrescribing works.
It the future. Rhode Island is #1 in the country for ePrescribing followed by Nevada, Massachusetts, Maryland and Florida.
RX_HUB.pdf

What Is A Steward ?
It is the title of an official position within the hierarchy of an organized labor unit. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that Steward's hold this position voluntarily while maintaining their role as an employee of the firm.
As a result the Steward becomes a significant link and conduit of information between the leadership and its members.The duties of a Steward vary according to each organizations constitutional mandate for the position. In general most Stewards perform the following functions:

Monitor and enforce the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement (labor contract) to ensure both the firm and members are not violating the terms of the agreement.
Ensure that the firm is in compliance with all Federal, State & Local laws and regulations.
Represent & defend fellow workers whom the firm believes violated company policy or the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement.
Communicate & disseminate official policy, and directives to members.

(From varions Wikipedia sources )
New Today 8/9/06
ELECTION FOR SECOND SHIFT STEWARD WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, 8/8/2006. LET US CONGRATULATE JEAN BICKEL ON HER ELECTION TO GUILD STEWARD. PLEASE GIVE JEAN ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU MATT AND DAVID FOR YOU INTEREST IN SERVING OUR MEMBERSHIP.
The Guild wins election in Las Vegas yesterday. Vote was 46 to 39. 4 voted for no representation.
Click here for an NDP member's announcement

Here is some news about other Medco sites and the GFPP
Click here

Click here for NY Times article with Mary Shin's picture
Please check out the new FAQ/INFO LINK to left. We will use that area to post and archive Guild and Medco related information. New this week is the 2007 vacation enrollment policy. The enrollment period is coming up soon so take a look.

USW ........Unity and Strength for Workers ......that the heading on the promotional piece the USW has been circulating for their new health careworkers council. As you read the article its clear they are not talking about unity with the Guild, also Organized Health Care Workers. I have no problem with the USW promoting their union. I wish them all good things. I just don't understand why they see the guild as a threat and not an allies Their analysis of the GFPP-Willingboro units contract is ..... , well let's just say they left out some of the story. Click on the link below it makes for an interesting read.

Click here for the article

Click here for a closer look at the USW's closer look.

Guild for Professional Pharmacists, Medco Willingboro
“Pharmacists working with and for Pharmacists”

Congratulations to Rick Madeline on his election as a GFPP steward. Let's give Rick all our support and assistance. Thank you Kevin Cadigan for your willingness to serve as a GFPP steward. Success can never be achieved in a Collective Bargaining environment without participation.

Be Proud, Be Strong, Be United, Be Professional.

An election for a third shift steward will be conducted on Monday, June 5, 2006. All full and part-time pharmacists are eligible to vote. Voting will be conducted in the break room per the following schedule:

Joe Centola 5-8:30am

Oren Schaham 10am-12:30pm

Glenn Garver 5pm-7:30pm

Please vote either before your shift begins, after your shift as ended, on your break periods or lunch period. The current candidates are Kevin Cadigan and Rick Madeline.

TIME BANK MANAGEMENT

VACATION TIME:
ALL VACATION TIME NOT APPROVED PRIOR TO YOUR ANNIVERSARY DATE IS LOST.
THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR FILING VACATION REQUESTS FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR IS SEPTEMBER 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3OTH OF EACH YEAR, WITH THE RESULTS TO BE RETURNED BY OCTOBER 15TH.
UNSED VACATION TIME MAY BE CASHED OUT EITHER FOR TERMINATIONS, RESIGNATIONS, OR SWITCHING TO PART-TIME STATUS
PERSONAL TIME:
ALL PERSONAL TIME NOT APPROVED PRIOR TO YOUR ANNIVERSARY DATE IS LOST; HOWEVER, YOU CAN REQUEST IN WRITING, TO HR/PAYROLL, TO BE PAID FOR UP TO FORTY (40) HOURS OF UNUSED PERSONAL TIME EACH ANNIVERSARY YEAR. THIS REQUEST MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR ANNIVERSARY DATE.
YOU MAY USE UP TO 3 INSTANCES IN AN ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF UNSCHEDULED PERSONAL TIME. WHETHER YOU USE THIS UNSCHEDULED PERSONAL TIME IN WHOLE OR HALF DAY INCRIMENTS, IT STILL COUNTS AS ONE INSTANCE. AFTER YOU HAVE USED 3 INSTANCES OF UNSCHEDULED PERSONAL TIME IN AN ANNIVERSARY YEAR, ALL OTHER PERSONAL TIME REQUESTS MUST BE SCHEDULED.
SICK TIME:
UNUSED SICK TIME CAN BE ROLLED OVER FROM ONE ANNIVERSARY YEAR TO THE NEXT, TO A MAXIMUM OF FIFTEEN (15) DAYS OR ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY (120) HOURS. ANY SICK TIME ABOVE 120 HOURS SHOULD BE CASHED OUT AUTOMATICALLY (IT IS ADVISED TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS TO BE SURE).
NOTE: ALL SCHEDULED AND APPROVED TIME OFF COUNT AS HOURS WORKED TOWARDS THE CALCULATION OF OVERTIME. ALL UNSCHEDULED TIME OFF (I.E., SICK TIME AND UNSCHEDULED PERSONAL TIME) DO NOT COUNT AS HOURS WORKED FOR THE CALCULATION OF OVERTIME.

CE PROGRAMS QUALIFYING FOR LAW CREDIT

New Jersey pharmacy licensure requires a total of 3 hours related to pharmacy law during each biennial registration period. Acceptable programs are those accredited by ACPE that have a program number ending with the digit 03. The letter preceding these two digits indicateds how the program was taken.
(L for live or didactic, H for home study and C for combination of the two.) The law requirement may be obtained by any of those three means.

ATTENTION STAFF PHARMACISTS !!!
UPDATE FOR 02/16/06
The following is from Steward Dominick Grimaldi

I attended the quarterly meeting of the Guild for Professionals Pharmacists this past Sunday in California. Meeting opened with a reading of the minutes from the last meeting held in November 2005.

Next a review of financials was reported by Guild President Ralph Vogel. The Guild presently has a little over 3 million dollars in the bank.

Next each member was called upon to review any items coming up or past in their respective districts.

Some spoke about upcoming contract negotiations, where surveys are mailed to each member asking for items to be included or deleted form the new contract, similar to what Ralph sent to us before our negotiations began. Next was a discussion of pending or past grievance's. It seems that most instances where a grievance was filled related to some form of misconduct, whether it be physical , verbal or sexual. So as an aside, it would be prudent on all our parts to ALWAYS act in a proper and professional manor in the workplace. For some of these grievance's are not winable, if we don't act appropriately in the workplace.

When my turn came to report, I basically fielded a lot of questions about our operation. All were extremely impressed by the operation here in Wilingboro.

Finally a salary discussion took place for the Guild members on payroll. Besides Ralph, only 2 full time attorny/RPH's. one full time secretary and 2 part time secretaries receive pay from the Guild. It is a very lean and well organized operation, having made money in every year of existence but one.

This year might be a break even or loss year because of the expense of our negations as well as 6 other contracts due to be negotiated this year. The next meeting was scheduled for May 7th, and was adjourned.

I think we made the right choice again by choosing Guild representation and look forward to a long relationship with this group of pharmacists.

Regards, Dom

ATTENTION STAFF PHARMACISTS !!!
UPDATE FOR 02/15/06

The following is from Steward Joe Centola

I have had several people ask me if the new contract was available yet. Unfortunately it is not. We are still awaiting the final version to sign off on. Until that time all the agreements are technically still "tentative". Once it is finalized, copies will be available. Be careful what you wish for though. Once it is finalized, dues will start coming out of your pay:) The "changes" that were handed out the night of ratification will be the majority of differences between the old and new contract. ALSO a reminder regarding vacation requests: ALL REQUESTS FOR APRIL TO DECEMBER 2006 MUST BE IN BY THE END OF THIS MONTH IF YOU WANT YOUR REQUEST SENIORITY BASED. SEE A STEWARD IF YOU NEED MORE DETAILS

It is assumed by now that everyone understands their rights under a contractual bargaining agreement(contract) If you are not sure, please take the time to read(a lot of info is available on the web) or ask. Below is a snippet from the Weingarten Act regarding employee's rights in regards to investigatory/disciplinary actions:

Employee Rights

Under the Supreme Court's Weingarten decision, when an investigatory interview occurs, these rules apply:

            · The employee may request union representation before or during the interview.

            · After the request, the employer must choose from among three options:

1. Grant the request and delay questioning until the union representative arrives.

2. Deny the request and end the interview immediately.

3. Give the employee a choice of: (a) having the interview without representation (usually a mistake) or (b) ending the interview.

If the employer denies the request for union representation, and questions the employee, it commits an unfair labor practice and the employee may refuse to answer.

Joe

ATTENTION STAFF PHARMACISTS !!!
UPDATE FOR 02/08/06
There is an update from Joe In the Stewards Speak area. You need your password. If you do not have one please apply today!!
Due to the size of our pharmacists unit, we are allowed one member to sit on the Guild for Professional Pharmacists Executive Board. Oren has been appointed by the GFPP as the representative for our unit until the next election, to be held in 2007. The Executive Board meets four times a year in California. The next meeting is scheduled for February 12th. Oren has asked Dominick Grimaldi, 3rd shift Steward, to attend this meeting in his place to represent our group. Since this is the first meeting we are attending, it will be more of a learning experience and opportunity to meet our fellow pharmacists around the nation. Dominick will report any and all pertinent information on this site when he returns. If the meeting allows for input from our members, we may create a survey on the site for questions . Dom may also ask Oren to gather questions and concerns to be presented at the next meeting, probably in May. Dominick thanks everyone for the opportunity to represent all of us at this meeting

ATTENTION STAFF PHARMACISTS !!!
UPDATE FOR 02/02/06

HR workways has updated our payroll files with the new pay rates. Please log into HR workways and check that your new rate is correct . Once you log in click on the "Your Pay " Tab . Then click on the " Your Compensation History" link. Under " Salary History , dated 12/11/05 , should be your new rate. If you do not know your new rate, CLICK HERE , for the new contract rates. Under " Long Term Incentive History" there should be a grant of 700 shares dated 01/17/2006. If there are any discrepancies please contact HR workways immediately for correction. We should see the retroactive pay in next weeks pay. You can estimate your pay adjustment HERE.
THE STEWARD TEAM

ATTENTION STAFF PHARMACISTS !!!
UPDATE FOR 01/25/06

IN YOUR MAILBOXES YOU WILL FIND A DUES CHECK OFF SHEET FROM THE GUILD FOR PROFESSIONAL PHARMACISTS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE FILL THESE SHEETS OUT AND RETURN THEM TO A STEWARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE WRITE NEATLY AND USE BLUE OR BLACK INK ONLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. THE STEWARD TEAM
We have added a number of new contacts for stewards on the link page. Please take a few seconds to review them.

HUMAN RESOURCES, RETROACTIVE PAY UPDATE FOR 1/18/06

As many of us might have heard by now, Darryl Clements (Director of Human Resources) has resigned from Medco. Darryl's resignation leaves an opening for a Director, Manager and Supervisor in our HR department. We have learned that HR/Payroll associate, Lolita Greene has resigned as well. Until, replacements can be hired, Cal Wasdyke will oversee HR on Mondays and Fridays. Tracie Oden (HR Director from the Columbus, Ohio pharmacy) will over see Willingboro's HR department on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Cal Wasdyke approached the steward team and asked if we can push our contractual retroactive pay by one week. Cal wishes to use Medco's corporate payroll personnel as opposed to our depleted in-house personnel in an effort to get all the changes correct. The stewards have agreed to allow Cal to do so. In our opinion, it is better to get everything done correctly one week later. Changes in payroll should be seen by the first full week of February. Please let your stewards know if you experience any problems with this.

Its Over !!!!!
Contract has been approved by the membership.
Click on Contract Page link for wage details. The following is a letter from our Chief Steward.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Dear Colleagues,

    I am writing this message as I am breathing a sigh of relief for having negotiations come to end. It has been a long, and at times, a difficult saga. Beginning with our meeting back in May 2005, in which we unanimously voted to organize with the Guild; leading into the NLRB vote in September 2005 and culminating with today's contract ratification vote; I am amazed at the unity we have displayed in pulling it all off. When we chose to be represented by the GFPP, they were a true unknown entity. When pharmacists would ask me questions about the Guild, I did not know how to answer them so I would say, "I know they are cheaper, I don't know if they are better." Having participated in negotiations with PACE and the USW; I can tell you, the Guild is better too. The Guild's preparedness and professional demeanor set the tone for negotiations and ultimately was responsible for our favorable outcome. We can relax now, we did indeed make the right choice. Thank you Ralph, Claudia and Howard.

    I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the efforts of some of our members. I would like to thank Jean Bickel for her devotion to second shift pharmacists and not allowing them to be forgotten. I would like to thank Barbara Goppold for her wisdom and insight into the thinking mechanisms of corporate America, her input was invaluable. I would like to thank Dominick Grimaldi for his years of experience and practicality which made our transitions in proposals run smoothly. I would like to thank Glenn Garver who brought his past experiences in negotiating contracts to the table and stuck to his guns. I would like to thank Joe Centola whose passion for the membership ensured we never settled for anything less than the most we could get out of the Company. Thank you Rick Madelaine for selflessly administering our website. Thank you to all the members who supplied us with competitors contracts, pay stubs and compensation information; we would never have succeeded without it.

    This committee has taken great pains to correct many of the problems with the language of our predecessor contract. In the coming weeks, we urge all members to become familiar with the new language in our contract. Before you approach a steward or a member of management with an issue or problem, please refer to the contract to see if a remedy for your problem lies within the language of the respective Articles. The stewards believe many of the previous problems have been corrected and are hopeful to handle only clear violations of current contract language in the future. Moving forward, many day to day issues in our work place will be handled by the Working Relations Committee. Please utilize this and the Safety Committee as a vehicle of resolving many issues and problems as well.

    Working side by side with the Guild members has thought me a very valuable lesson. We must never forget, as pharmacists, we are important members of the Medco team. Medco is a PBM which runs pharmacies. Pharmacies are run by pharmacists. It was pharmacists who were most instrumental in reducing Medco's 800,000 back log of prescriptions in 2004. If Medco is capable of being reimbursed for cognitive services in the future, it will be pharmacist's licenses and certifications which will proliferate this as well. In short, if we are to ever achieve any modicum of respect and financial gain from Medco from here on out; it can only be achieved by conducting ourselves as professionals. Using metal clickers, veiled threats of work action, media propaganda, or walking a picket line will not aid us in achieving any sort of favorable outcomes. If we respect ourselves, we will receive respect in return from others. If we treat our jobs and management with professionalism, we will be rewarded with professionalism in return. We must move forward with this attitude in mind or else we will continuously move backwards.

    In conclusion, I wish to congratulate all of us for sticking together and making wise choices. I am optimistic my wishes for good things will come our way from here on in. I can promise you, I and the entire steward team, will work as hard as necessary to make such wish come true. Thank you.

STAY PROUD, STAY STRONG, STAY PROFESSIONAL

Sincerely,

Oren

GUILD FOR PROFESSIONAL PHARMACISTS MEETING 01/14/06

A meeting for the members of the Guild for Professional Pharmacists working at Medco, Willingboro, NJ will be held on Sunday, 1/15/2006. Please plan to attend at 3:00pm sharp! A vote will be conducted; do not let your employment fate be determined soley by those who attend the meeting. Food and beverages will be served. Directions to the Willingboro Knights of Columbus Hall are listed below.

All full-time, part-time and recently hired (still probationary) pharmacists must attend and are eligible to vote.

Directions to Willingboro Knights of Columbus Hall

From the Medco parking lot, turn right on to Van Skiver Pkwy.

Proceed 0.9 miles to second traffic light (Willingboro water tower on right) and turn right onto JF Kennedy Way

Proceed 2.1 miles just passed the third traffic light (Beverly-Rancocas Rd.) Knights of Columbus Hall is on right side across from Willingboro High School

GUILD FOR PROFESSIONAL PHARMACISTS MEETING 01/11/06

Whether it will be for the purpose of contract ratification or to conduct a strike vote; the meeting scheduled for Sunday, 1/15/2006 is on. The meeting is scheduled from 3pm-6pm at the Willingboro Knights of Columbus Hall located on 55 JF Kennedy Way Willingboro, NJ. Directions to the hall are listed below.

Directions to Willingboro Knights of Columbus Hall

From the Medco parking lot, turn right on to Van Skiver Pkwy.

Proceed 0.9 miles to second traffic light (Willingboro water tower on right) and turn right onto JF Kennedy Way

Proceed 2.1 miles just passed the third traffic light (Beverly-Rancocas Rd.) Knights of Columbus Hall is on right side across from Willingboro High School

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 12/30/2005

WE ARE PLANNING TO HOLD A CONTRACT RATIFICATION MEETING ON SUNDAY, 1/15/2005 FROM 3pm-6pm TO BE HELD AT THE WILLINGBORO KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL LOCATED AT 55 J.F. KENNEDY WAY. WILLINGBORO, NJ. ANY CHANGES TO THE DATE AND TIME OF THIS CONTRACT RATIFICATION MEETING WILL BE COMMUNICATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DIRECTIONS TO THE HALL ARE LISTED BELOW. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SUNDAY, 1/15/2005 3-6PM.

Directions to Willingboro Knights of Columbus Hall

From the Medco parking lot, turn right on to Van Sciver Pkwy.

Proceed 0.9 miles to second traffic light (Willingboro water tower on right) and turn right onto J. F. Kennedy Way.

Proceed 2.1 miles just passed the third traffic light (Beverly-Rancocas Rd.) Knights of Columbus Hall is on right side across from Willingboro High School.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 12/30/2005

WE ARE PLANNING TO HOLD A CONTRACT RATIFICATION MEETING ON SUNDAY, 1/15/2005 FROM 3pm-6pm TO BE HELD AT THE WILLINGBORO KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL LOCATED AT 55 J.F. KENNEDY WAY. WILLINGBORO, NJ. ANY CHANGES TO THE DATE AND TIME OF THIS CONTRACT RATIFICATION MEETING WILL BE COMMUNICATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DIRECTIONS TO THE HALL ARE LISTED BELOW. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SUNDAY, 1/15/2005 3-6PM.

Directions to Willingboro Knights of Columbus Hall

From the Medco parking lot, turn right on to Van Sciver Pkwy.

Proceed 0.9 miles to second traffic light (Willingboro water tower on right) and turn right onto J. F. Kennedy Way.

Proceed 2.1 miles just passed the third traffic light (Beverly-Rancocas Rd.) Knights of Columbus Hall is on right side across from Willingboro High School.

UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2005

BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT

By now, all regular full-time pharmacists should have received in the mail an open enrollment package from Medco. The rates of contribution for 2006 enclosed in the packet is based on Medco's cost for the respective medical coverage for year 2006 and those costs were plugged into the formula for employee contribution as defined in our predecessor contract. DO NOT BE FOOLED, THESE ARE NOT THE RATES WITH A 20% EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION; THE ENCLOSED RATES ARE MUCH LOWER. The open enrollment period will begin on 12/27/2005 and end on 1/13/2006. The Guild's Negotiating Committee has not received a definite confirmation that Medco will conduct a second open enrollment period after contract ratification. We are urging all pharmacists to participate in this open enrollment period as though it is our only open enrollment period for year 2006. Hopefully, Medco will provide individual plan information at the pharmacy to aid in our decision process. Below, we have listed the seven medical plans and two dental plans offered by Medco with the dollar amounts at a weekly employee cost contribution of 20%. For 2006, an employee may elect to take medical coverage without dental coverage.We hope this information will be useful in your decision process.

1. AMERIHEALTH MEDICAL & MEDCHOICE PRESCRIPTION

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $15.76

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $28.86

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $32.67

FAMILY COVERAGE - $45.07

2. HEALTHNET MEDICAL & MEDCHOICE PRESCRIPTION

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $18.33

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $36.65

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $36.66

FAMILY COVERAGE - $47.65

3. HORIZON HMO BLUE OF NEW JERSEY MEDICAL & MEDCHOICE PRESCRIPTION

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $17.92

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $35.83

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $35.83

FAMILY COVERAGE - $46.58

4. OXFORD HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL & MEDCHOICE PRESCRIPTION

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $18.81

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $37.61

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $37.61

FAMILY COVERAGE - $48.90

5. UNITED HEALTH CARE CHOICE PLUS MEDICAL & MEDCHOICE PRESCRIPTION

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $21.95

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $43.91

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $43.91

FAMILY COVERAGE - $57.08

6. UNITED HEALTH CARE DEFINITY CDHP (CONSUMER DRIVEN HEALTH PLAN) MEDICAL & MEDCHOICE PRESCRIPTION

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $13.17

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $26.34

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $26.34

FAMILY COVERAGE - $34.25

7. OUT OF AREA MEDICAL & MEDCHOICE PRESCRIPTION

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $21.95

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $43.91

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $43.91

FAMILY COVERAGE - $57.08

8. DELTA DENTAL OF NEW JERSEY PREMIER

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $1.41

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $2.82

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $2.82

FAMILY COVERAGE - $3.66

9. DELTA DENTAL OF NEW JERSEY PREFERRED

EMPLOYEE ONLY - $0.95

EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE - $1.90

EMPLOYEE AND CHILD(REN) - $1.90

FAMILY COVERAGE - $2.47

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2005

Two or Three additional days of negotiations are being scheduled during the week beginning January 9th, 2006. The intent is to conclude negotions during this period. A membership meeting is being scheduled for
Sunday,January 15, 2006.
Please apply for your member area user ID/ password. There will be communications in the future that will be available only to the membership.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW REGARDING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

The following information has either been presented to us during negotiations, or discovered in preparing for negotiations, and is important to share with the membership.

INSURANCE AND MEDICAL COSTS AT AN EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION OF 20%

The following is a range of prices:

Optional Employee Life Insurance (dependant on age): Weekly rate of $0.01154-$1.200 per $1000.00 of coverage

Accidental Death and Dismemberment: Weekly rate of $0.069-$0.095 per $10,000.00 of coverage

Long term Disability: Weekly rate of $0.011 per $1,000.00 of coverage

Vision: Range from $2.18 to $5.59 per week depending on who is covered

Dental: Range from $0.95 to $3.66 per week depending on plan and who is covered

Medical Insurance: The following is a range spanning all seven types of plans offered by Medco

                                        Employee Only $13.17-$21.95 per week

                                        Employee and Spouse $26.34-$43.91 per week

                                        Employee and Child(ren) $26.34-$43.91 per week

                                        Family Coverage $34.25-$57.08 per week

EXPRESS SCRIPTS PHARMACIST WAGES FOR THE BEN-SALEM, PENNSYLVANIA PHARMACY (APPROXIMATELY A 15-20 MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE MEDCO WILLINGBORO,NJ PHARMACY)

Tier 2 (Monday through Friday schedule, no weekends) current rate $43.05/hr rate as of 3/1/06 $46.06/hr

Tier 3 (hours include 1 or 2 weekend day per pay period) current rate $44.10/hr rate as of 3/1/06 $47.19/hr

Tier 4 (hours include 4 weekend days per pay period or shift that ends between 9pm and 6am) current rate $46.73/hr rate as of 3/1/06 $50.00/hr

All other forms of compensation, such as paid holidays, personal leave time, vacation time, pension plan, health insurance contribution, 401K, etc., are comparable with Medco's compensation packages.

RESULTS OF THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE'S PAY STUB SURVEY

The following wages are an average of all the pay stubs collected for pharmacists in our market area:

First shift (and blended shifts): $46.72/hour

Second shift: $48.18/hour

Third shift: $50.88/hour

The following data was taken from a MercerHR report on pharmacists wages conducted in July 2005. MercerHR is a leader in providing human resource and demographic data for large corporations. Its clients include Medco Health Solutions.

Staff pharmacist (mail-order) will earn for year 2005 $90,900.00 or $43.70/hr for 2080 hours worked.

Staff pharmacist in the Philadelphia, Pa. area will earn for year 2005 $92,400.00 or $44.42/ hr for 2080 hours worked.

The following data was taken from a Fall 2005 survey conducted by Pharmacy Onesource.

Staff pharmacist (mail-order) will earn for year 2005 $92,100.00 or $44.28/hr for 2080 hours worked.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2005

Negotiations began at 9am with the Guild's committee presenting Medco with its counter proposals on the following Articles:
HOLIDAYS
SICK LEAVE
PERSONAL LEAVE TIME
VACATION.
Later in the morning, Medco proposed some changes be made to the Guild's counter proposal*. The Guild accepted Medco's proposed changes. *Note: some language in the above mentioned Articles has been mutually agreed to be discussed at a later time. Following discussion on costs of Medchoice insurance and medical benefits, Medco presented its first counter proposal on the following Articles**:
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
MEDICAL AND INSURANCE BENEFITS
EFFECTIVE DATE
RIDER "B" (WAGE INCREASES)
STOCK OPTIONS
CONTINUING EDUCATION
**Note: Medco stipulated this is a first proposal or starting point. Following discussion, Medco and the Guild tentatively agreed upon the language in the LEAVE OF ABSENCE Article. The Guild's committee presented Medco with counter proposals on the following***:
EFFECTIVE DATE
RIDER "B"
STOCK OPTIONS
HOLIDAY PAY
PERSONAL LEAVE TIME
VACATION TIME
SHIFT PREMIUMS
BONUS PLAN
CONTINUING EDUCATION.
***Note: the Guild defers discussion on medical and insurance benefits to a later date. Negotiations adjourned at 5:30pm. Future dates for negotiations are yet to be determined

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2005

Negotiations began at 9am. After the Guild presented its counter proposals and further discussion was had, the Guild and Medco tentatively agreed on the following Articles:
MISCELLANEOUS
BREAKS AND MEAL PERIODS
SENIORITY
WORK SCHEDULES-OVERTIME.
A Memorandum of Understandings was agreed upon regarding professional liability insurance and scheduling of breaks and meal periods. Medco proposed changes in pre-existing language of Holiday pay for ten hour shifts, length of probationary period, limits of mandatory overtime hours, and break schedule. The Guild's negotiating committee was successful in getting Medco to withdraw its proposals on all this language. This concluded all non-economic issues. Economic issues began with the Guild discussing its proposals on the following Articles:
HOLIDAYS
SICK LEAVE
PERSONAL LEAVE TIME
VACATIONS
At approximately 5:15pm, Medco returned its counter proposals. The Guild's negotiating committee remained until 7:30pm preparing its counter proposals to be ready to submit to Medco on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at 9am.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE FOR 12/12/2005

Negotiations resumed today at 9am in Mount Laurel. The Guild for Professional Pharmacists and Medco have tentatively agreed on the following Articles:
COMMITTEES
MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
LEAD PERSONS
STEWARDS
NON-DISCRIMINATION
DISCIPLINE
ACCESS TO FACILITY
GUILD SECURITY
The Guild handed Medco counter proposals on the following Articles:
WORK SCHEDULES-OVERTIME
SENIORITY
MISCELLANEOUS
After some delay (due to technical problems), talks resumed at 2:30pm with Medco handing counter proposals on the Articles listed above plus
BREAKS AND LUNCHES.
The Guild's negotiating committee worked until 6:30pm finalizing their counter proposals to be delivered to Medco on 9am Tuesday. It is anticipated all non-economic language will be completed on Tuesday, 12/13/05 at which time discussion on economic issues will begin.
.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE FOR 11/22/2005

David Miller (attorney) joined Medco's negotiating committee today. Medco offered and explained its counter proposal to the Guild's non-economic proposals. The discussion following was professional and productive. Both committees caucused to discuss the proposals on the table. Upon reconvening, the Guild asked Medco's committee for several points of clarification regarding their counter proposal. The committees for the Guild and Medco have tentatively agreed on the following Articles:

FRONT TITLE PAGE

RECOGNITION

WORK STOPPAGE

NEW CLASSIFICATION

GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION PROCEDURE

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Further negotiations have been scheduled for
December 12th, 13th and 14th.
.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE FOR 11/21/2005

Today went very well for a first day of negotiations. Present at the table for Medco, comprising its negotiating committee were, attorney David Reilly, Cal Wasdyke, Barry Cesanek and Darryl Clements. The Guild had a very professional and organized verbal and written presentation. The Guild offered and explained its proposed contract language for non-economic issues to the Company. The Company offered and explained its proposals for non-economic contract language to the Guild's negotiating committee. Both parties adjourned for the day at 3pm to discuss the other's proposals. Negotiations are scheduled to resume on 11/22/05 at 9am, where we anticipate the exchanges of counter proposals and the negotiating begins. We are hoping to post language after it is mutually agreed upon by both negotiating committees and is considered tentative agreements. Do not forget; let's be supportive of one another during negotiations.

GFPP-WB ARCHIVE INFORMATION

Bush signs FMLA military expansion bill

I shill again !!!!!!!