The gall of EdSource to change our insurance left a reporter with a big gallstone bill.

My name is Emma Gallegos, co-vice chair of the EdSource Guild. I'm sharing this story from my fellow co-vice chair Daniel J. Willis of how EdSource violating labor law affected him when he had a recent health emergency. Daniel has won many awards for his work as a data reporter at EdSource, so I thought it was appropriate to show him being toasted for one of those awards. Please donate what you can to help him pay an astronomical medical bill.

"My name is Daniel Willis, and I’m a data reporter at EdSource. This month, I had to have my gallbladder removed which led to a general abdominal infection. The bill from my hospital stay is over $6,250. Because I'm not independently wealthy, any contribution will help.

Had this happened as recently as six months ago, I probably wouldn’t be asking for your help. This year, EdSource violated labor law by unilaterally changing the health plans available to my coworkers and me, and I was left with a plan with much worse coverage. My previous plan had a $500 deductible and a flat daily rate of $500 per day for hospital stays. My current plan has a $1,000 deductible, plus it requires me to pay 30% of the cost of hospital visits. As a result, my hospital bill is thousands of dollars more expensive. I came home from the hospital the same day, but still hit my out-of-pocket maximum for the year.

Because management failed to bargain with us over these changes, the EdSource Guild filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge. As we negotiate our first contract, the guild is also demanding EdSource guarantee that a strong health care plan will always be available to us, which is especially important for myself and other members with chronic health conditions. For now, though, I’m stuck with a health plan that has left me with a hospital bill I can’t afford. Any contribution helps. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely and in solidarity,

Daniel J. Willis"