Warren is facing about a $690,000 deficit this year. And officials said out of that amount, $650,000 is due to insurance costs and they need employees to help cut expenses.
City officials said most of the unions do not pay anything toward insurance costs.
But today members of several of the city's unions met at the fire station and said they formed a health care committee in July to help confront the soaring costs of insurance. But the administration, they said, has stalled their efforts.
"We have come up with ideas and we want to create a comprehensive plan and have them bid it out and then we can talk about increasing co-pays and deductibles," said Chuck Eggleston, a firefighter. "But, we have not gotten anywhere wtih dealing with the city."
The union members said they have already given several concessions over the last year.
"Two weeks ago many of us made a difference in our community, and we now need the city administration to step up and make a difference," said Rick Radich of AFSCME.
City officials said they aren't against getting insurance proposals, but they need to negotiate new contracts before they can ask companies for prices.
"When you ask for numbers, you have to give some ideas what the health care package may look like," said City Law Director Greg Hicks.
Both sides said they want to get together soon to further discuss the issues.
