July 27, 2010
Lars Houmann, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
Florida Hospital
601 Rollins Street
Orlando, Florida 32803

Stephen J. Hemsley,
President and Chief Executive Officer
United Healthcare Group
9900 Bren Road East
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343

Re: Status of Relationship between United Healthcare and Florida Hospital

Dear Gentlemen:

Please allow me to briefly introduce myself, my name is John Park and I am the president of the Central Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA). The PBA is the collective bargaining agent for deputies, corporals and sergeants working for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies in the greater Orlando area. Our various members include police officers, correctional officers and deputy sheriffs.

With all the changes and increased costs in employee healthcare, I strongly suggest looking at supplemental insurance programs. I have greatly benefited from having Colonial Insurance when I have been injured "on and off duty."

Now, Colonial Insurance has a great new program called "medical-bridge" that covers the following.

1) fills gaps when a LEO/family member is hospitalized
2) fills gaps when out-patient surgery is needed by LEO/family member.

In other words, this popular and inexpensive Colonial Insurance plan fills the "deductibles" under the new plan. Currently, this new plan covers more than 800 OCSO personnel (not one deputy has turned it down so far!!)

Please contact Bill Rennard at 407-678-4994 or 407-421-1676 for more information.

The PBA has expressed our growing concerns about health insurance increases to the OCSO in many settings (ie. negotiations, one-on-one meetings, telephonic and email communications, etc.) We asked important questions about the health care issues and costs. Below are the OCSO's responses.

Please pay particularly close attention to their response to “question 10.” The PBA is obligated to its membership, as well as the rest of the employees in the two bargaining units, to insist that no change in terms and conditions of employment be unilaterally imposed without bargaining over said proposed changes. Specifically, we find it draconian for the OCSO to try to impose penalties on individual bargaining unit members because they choose not to participate in the Wellness Screening or Tobacco Cessation or to even require someone to sign an affidavit stating they are tobacco free.

We understand and support that it may be in an employee's best interest to be tobacco free and seeking wellness, but to impose sanctions on individuals is another issue altogether.

If Sheriff Demings insists on moving forward on these penalties or unilaterally imposing the penalties or insurance before the conclusion of the negotiation process, the PBA shall move forward, within the framework of the status quo contracts and relevant statutes to ensure that all of the bargaining unit employees are fairly and fully represented.

The PBA questions below are not all inclusive. Please be cognizant that PBA rep Don Doyle may not have been a party to all meetings that have taken place concerning health care and the related associated costs. Nor is Don’s attendance a waiver by the PBA to negotiate matters affecting the bargaining units' positions on Insurance Benefits.

On June 7, the OCSO gave PBA their Article 27 - Insurance Benefits proposal which substantially deviates from the current contract language. In order for the bargaining agent to formulate an informed response, the PBA is requesting that the following information be provided to us:

The Central Florida Police Benevolent Association (CFPBA) and Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) announced today (7/7/10) its endorsement of the following candidates for the respective government and judicial positions they are seeking.

“We are proud to endorse the following candidates who will provide leadership that carefully listens and responds to the needs of their communities and the public safety officials who protect and serve these communities. We are confident that these candidates will instill “unity, trust and responsible action” thereby properly addressing key quality of life issues”, said John Park, President of the Central Florida PBA.

Since Sheriff Demings announced that he is forming a civilian review panel (CRP) and since the PBA already has a contract proposal (Article 7 Section 6 - Appearance before Citizen Review Board or Similar Entities), we requested clarification from the Sheriff so these questions were sent to him via his legal and contract staff.

NOTE: In recent discussions, the OCSO contract negotiation team assured the PBA that there were no plans to embrace another type of oversight citizen board, especially given the extensive time, money and effort expended by both the PBA and OCSO to disband the County CRB. This leads the PBA to ask the following questions:

Former Sheriff Beary, current Sheriff Demings and the PBA recently won a legal battle thereby disbanding the prior Orange County Citizen’s Review Board (CRB). Therefore, I was very surprised and disappointed yesterday when Sheriff Demings announced his establishment of an “internal” Orange County Sheriff's Office Citizens Review Panel (CRP).

During my discussions with Sheriff Demings yesterday, he did not relieve my concerns about mandatory employee appearance and PBA employee representation at the CRP. Sheriff Demings did offer PBA involvement in the CRP development process and a PBA position on the CRP. Fortunately, sheriff Demings also stated that the CRP would be “non-punitive” and only review and make recommendations.

The Florida Police Benevolent Association is comprised of 36,000 members within law enforcement, corrections and probations.

The following "PBA endorsed candidates" are strong and passionate advocates for these brave officers and their families.

Proceeds from this Golf Outing will be donated to the Wallis and Robert’s families who are recovering from recent tragedies.