Oakland Unified School District v. Public Employment Relations Board

The Oakland Education Association (Association) complained that petitioner Oakland Unified School District (District) had committed an unfair practice when it unilaterally terminated Blue Cross as the administrator of employee medical claims and substituted Western Administration Company as the district’s medical claims processor. The Association contended that the change of administrators was a meet and confer item requiring collective bargaining negotiations. In particular they contend that the change in claims processor resulted in the loss of the Blue Cross identification card which is nationally recognized and provides guaranteed payment for admission to any of Blue Cross’ 7,000 member hospitals and in the loss of the right on termination from employment with the District to convert to Blue Cross Health Insurance. Neither of those benefits were available to members of the Association with Western Administration administering the self-insured health plan of the District. A hearing officer found in favor of the Association. Upon review the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) affirmed the hearing officer’s findings and ordered certain remedies. In its petition for…