Graduate workers and higher‑ed faculty press lawmakers for 80/20 health‑insurance split

Several public commenters told the committee higher‑education employees and graduate workers are excluded from a prevailing 80/20 employer/employee health‑insurance cost share and urged legislative action to extend parity.

Speakers from Higher Ed Labor United and local graduate‑worker unions said the current landscape is a patchwork: some higher‑ed employees have employer‑sponsored plans, others—particularly adjuncts and graduate workers—do not or must pay full premiums. Commenters described recruitment and retention risks and urged the legislature and the Legislative Finance Committee to work with LFC staff on policy options to create an 80/20 cost‑share model for higher education.

Why it matters: Commenters said inequitable health benefits hinder recruitment and retention of instructors and graduate workers who teach foundational courses. They asked the committee to prioritize parity with K‑12 and other state workers and to explore budget solutions in the interim.