Teachers in Milwaukee are making headlines after it was found that the union had been fighting for two years to get Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs back on their insurance plan, while ignoring hundreds of layoffs in the district.
It costs more than $700,000 per year to fund the small incorporation of erectile dysfunction drugs in the insurance plan, enough to allow a dozen teachers to remain on staff.
Despite this, and the fact that more than 300 teachers have received notices of layoffs with more possible in the near future, the teachers union is fighting hard to get the cost put back into the budget.
According to a spokesperson for the union, the removal of those drugs from coverage is discriminatory, as they are specifically designed for men. But the school board pointed out in rebuttal that, men or not, the pills are used for the treatment in a condition inhibits recreational sex, and nothing else.
With all the publicity surrounding the request, they are unlikely to win their battle, either. Many have expressed outrage that so much time and money would be out to arguing this issue, when so many educators are losing their jobs.
Perhaps the teachers involved don’t realize that without employment, they won’t get health coverage at all.