Letter to the Editor: Says NK bus drivers deserve benefits

The New Kent School Board has changed its policy defining school bus drivers and some cafeteria workers as permanent part-time employees and they attribute it to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The facts are that the ACA does not require an employer to define someone as permanent part-time, nor does it require an employer to reduce premium assistance for medical insurance for employees that work less than 30 hours per week.

According to the ACA, an employer with a minimum of 50 full-time employees (by statute, a full-time employee is an individual that averages at least 30 hrs. per week) must offer affordable health care coverage to their full-time employees or be subject to an employer shared responsibility payment of $2,000 per employee. The ACA never dictates that part-time employee benefits be reduced.

Most bus drivers work about 25 hours per week and participate in the group plan currently offered. The school board is hiding behind a cloud of confusion that surrounds the ACA. At the last school board meeting, many drivers and citizens voiced their concerns over these policy changes. I was disappointed that not one school board member nor the superintendent spoke in support of keeping these employees insured.

The superintendent seemed to listen, the chair kept close tabs to ensure no one exceeded their allotted time, and the other board members rarely looked up from their personal devices.

These drivers were not asking for a hand out. They simply wanted the school board to hold up its end of the bargain to provide the contracted salary and benefits agreed upon when they were hired. Many now will have to decide between working and having more expensive insurance or not work and receive the tax credit offered by the ACA.

I urge anyone to not take my word for it but research the ACA yourself. The IRS has information on its website or just Google the Affordable Care Act.

John R. Ferrell
New Kent