Milwaukee teachers’ union sues over Viagra

Really?!?!?

The Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association has filed a civil suit claiming that MPS’ exclusion of Viagra and other drugs that treat erectile dysfunction from its health insurance plans constitutes sexual discrimination against male employees.

Last September, an administrative law judge dismissed an earlier ruling that sided with the union, which filed an equal rights complaint in 2008. The state’s Labor and Industry Review Commission upheld the decision in June.

The union now seeks a review of that decision by a Milwaukee County circuit court judge.

“This is an issue of discrimination, of equal rights for all our members,” said Kristin Collett, spokeswoman for the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association.

Reinstating the Viagra benefit would cost MPS $786,000 per year, money that will surely be cut in other areas – perhaps by laying off even more teachers – so I don’t understand this. Sure, I “get” the whole argument about equality, but this seems like a pretty foolish time to be pushing this issue.

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9 thoughts on “Milwaukee teachers’ union sues over Viagra

  1. Just another thing the teachers union is fighting for on behalf of student needs and quality of education. At least that’s what they’re always claiming. It’s all about the children right?

    I guess those poor MPS teachers will have to wait til 2013 like the rest of us to get their precious little blue pills.

  2. Geez, dudes. Be patient. Viagra goes off patent in about a year and a half. Not that I have it marked on my calendar or anything.

  3. I’m blown away that Viagra is so popular that this would cost the school district that much.

  4. It’s all about the kids, right MTEA? Yep, all about the kids.

    Ridiculous. The MPS teachers who care should recertify and organize another group that actually cares about educational outcomes, because MTEA doesn’t seem to. Like with most other things, once it becomes all about you, it’s going in the wrong direction.

  5. You get the whole point about “equality”? Hmmm…I don’t. Do you have any idea how many serious and painful illnesses can make a woman sexually dysfunctional and the treatments of these illnesses aren’t covered by many insurances? This isn’t about “equality” at all…it’s about men who need to get over themselves and if they can’t get it up they need to find a hobby.

    1. Anon-

      That was my thought exactly….hormone or contraception medication used to treat non-birth control medical conditions are not covered by any insurance plan. Boys….get a grip and start being treated equal! In other words, pay for the pills like women do every month out of our pockets!

      1. Let’s compare apples to apples here. Are those meds covered under the current teachers plan(s)?

        Because I could list about a million things that us mortals with normal coverage have to pay out of pocket and/or copays for where the teachers pay nothing.

        If there are drugs similar* female issues, that are covered, I think there is something to the equality/fairness issue and in a different environment, that might be an interesting debate. But the bottom line we are where we are, the the teachers union is showing an absolutely stunning lack of PR acumen by pressing this issue now. Aside from being a national laughing stock, they’ve very much undermined their own interests.

        * I don’t know how the heck you’d actually define similar.

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