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Taxpayer-funded cosmetic surgery for some NY teachers?

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    Buffalo school board vice president Ralph Hernandez weighs in

  • Duration 3:30
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Growing controversy over -- story we've been following here a teacher's union in an underperforming school district in New York.

Fighting to preserve a decades old health care plan that covers cosmetic surgery and makes the tax -- Pay for it.

All this while the district struggles under millions in debt.

Now a new report showing that just one year alone they spent nearly three million dollars taxpayer dollars.

I'm procedures like hair removal and liposuction.

Joining me now is Ralph Hernandez vice president of executive affairs of the Buffalo, New York school board.

Sir are welcome to the program so this is happening in buffalo.

And the teachers union I mean the good news is it's gone down it was nine million on hair removal through like -- well and all these other procedures.

A couple of years ago that it dropped to five point nine million actually three million so why shouldn't the good citizens of buffalo pay up.

Well what I -- that we got everything got better news than that we've got some reassurances from the leadership of the unions that they would drop the Ryder.

And it's entirely at the next.

Collective bargaining agreements or it's not an issue that will -- -- hopefully beyond you know the next collective bargaining agreements.

Well well what about 2009 and 2010.

And and you know 2011 and why wasn't this renegotiated before because buffalo struggling and really probably doesn't want -- pay nine million box.

For the like bulk of its teachers in the school district where only half the kids are graduating.

And I and I agree with that 100% I think most of us would like to see their money in the classroom this and that about that.

We have is part of their the writer is part of the collective bargaining agreement it is -- hey I'm.

Part of the -- -- that that if we breached that contract obviously we're gonna find ourselves in court when I'm going to be everywhere now because it is a legal document.

And demand an all time in in his hand and try to renegotiate it.

-- I believe wait we actually we had a four year Contra which expired -- five years ago.

So this this writer has been part of the -- a public school system for.

120 years I would say.

It's now that we're finally started to get to the point where not only pressure from the community and and folks like yourself and others spot.

The board has been very very -- tough on them in regards through.

Cutting loose as a writer as writer you know this money can be spent in the classroom.

I would actually tell if I'm wrong tell me if I'm -- out but what I was told is that.

That given the budget constraints in buffalo.

Then the school went to the teachers and said look we're gonna have to lay off 100 teachers and we won't do it if you give up the cosmetic surgery coverage.

Of the union plan and that they may refuse they refused to say the jobs of the of the teachers and eight and one of them polite -- more.

-- that it that is correct you know we get -- approaching unions.

Last year and the year before that.

-- even filed resolutions with the board asking god sent them letters asking him through.

-- negotiator memorandum of understanding of not necessarily.

Eliminates a right a completely from the collective bargaining agreement but I -- -- -- and am more -- give us some released really for about a year through.

And throw at such time as the -- as a collective bargaining agreement -- completed.

And that unfortunately was was not turned down so we had the right now it's just their word and their commitment that they would -- -- that and I have great.

We'll continue to follow -- good luck -- Thank you.

Some of the news writes itself.

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