Several Schuylkill County Children and Youth workers told the commissioners they are upset about the changes to retirement health benefits.

Commissioners are considering such an action at today’s meeting.

“I have fought cancer twice. It’s not going to be easy for me to go on somebody else’s health plan or to find insurance and you guys are taking that away from us. That’s not OK,” Christina Alexander, a supervisor with CY said.

She started with the agency Nov. 6, 2002.

She claimed they don’t get raises.

“We didn’t come here begging for anything. All we’re asking for you to do is give us what we were guaranteed and promised,” she said.

“We work in a job that is so thankless and underpaid and this is the one thing we had that was an incentive to stay and now it’s not,” Melissa Sinn, a CY employee said.

Another CY worker urged commissioners to reconsider.

“Thank you for your comments. We appreciate it,” Commissioners’ Chairman Barron “Boots” Hetherington said.

The current policy approved April 2, 2014, says employees hired prior to Nov. 24, 2004, but on or after Jan. 1, 1988, are eligible for their current coverage or comparable health insurance coverage upon retirement. “This benefit does not include dependents and applies to full-time employees in an active employment status at age 60 or above who have at least 12 years of service or age 55 and under with 20 years of service with the County of Schuylkill.”

Heidi Zula, human resources director, said the proposed change applies to nonunion and exempt employees and includes 60 or above on or before Dec. 31, 2022, or who have at least 20 years. Another provision says those who retire on or after Jan. 1, 2023, who have 12 years and 60 or above or 20 years at age 55 and above.

Zula said the current policy is “not reflective of the practice that is in place.”

The policy did not address what happens to those who are ages 56, 57, 58 and 59.

“I understand what their concern is,” Zula said about the workers, but research was done and the new policy is what is being proposed.

Frequent commissioner critic Jeff Dunkel said “this is atrocious that they put their lives into this place and you go and screw them over.”

After the meeting Commissioner Gary Hess said “we made that promise and we should hold that promise.” Hess said the change does not affect him.

Hetherington said the comment about not getting raises isn’t true.

“They do get pay increases.”