"LIU and Local 153 are currently negotiating the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement," says Gale Stevens Haynes, the university's vice president, CEO and legal counsel. "As is the case across the entire country, the issue of health care is a main focus. LIU was recently informed that the health care plan offered to its secretarial and clerical workers through the Local 153 union will cease operating effective Jan. 1, 2015. LIU has been working to ensure that these employees can transition to the LIU health plan, without any lapse in coverage. Like most employers offering health care, LIU requires an employee contribution for health coverage. This has resulted in an understandably difficult transition for Local 153 members as they have previously enjoyed health care benefits without cost-sharing."