(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – After a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic and changes in the Health Plan’s local leadership, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield - the only Buffalo-based Health Insurer with Union Members in its workforce, is resuming its annual Labor Seminar on Tuesday (July 1st), which will be held at its new offices located in the Seneca One Tower in Downtown Buffalo.

Dozens of attending Labor Representatives from Western New York’s Public and Private Unions and Building Trades Unions will be provided with critical insight into the latest health care trends, innovative solutions and the future of Union Health Care Benefits.

Key seminar topics include: Health care costs and utilization trends; Cost mitigation solutions; and a look at what’s new at the Erie County Medical Center’s (ECMC) on-site Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM).

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield President Jessica Cox (Pictured Below/Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Photo) said: “We understand local Unions are facing unprecedented challenges when it comes to their Members' health care and we aim to provide you with the tools and knowledge to navigate these complexities. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is deeply committed to our Union clients and proud to continue as the only local health plan with a Union Workforce. We believe this seminar will provide a valuable opportunity to discuss how we can continue to strengthen our partnerships and ensure the well-being of your Members.”

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield recently extended its legacy as the only health plan locally with a Union-represented Workforce through a new three-year contract agreement with Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 (For More, Read: OPEIU Local 153 Members ‘Overwhelmingly Ratify’ New Three-Year Contract At Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Western New York - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York).

Highmark’s commitment to Organized Labor also extends beyond its own workforce, as demonstrated by the recent appointment of Bill Jakobi, the former Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council/United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison, as Senior Labor Affairs Consultant.  

Jakobi plays a vital role in supporting the needs of the dozens of Unions and municipalities Highmark insures throughout Western New York.

“The Labor Seminar used to be an annual tradition for our health plan and the pandemic disrupted that a bit,” Jakobi (Pictured Below With Cox/Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Photo) said. “This seminar is more than just a presentation. It's a chance for open dialogue and collaboration. We want to hear directly from Labor Leaders about the challenges they're facing and work together to find solutions that meet the evolving needs of their Members.”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: There’s still time to submit your RSVP for the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Labor Seminar. Contact Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Senior Labor Affairs Consultant Bill Jakobi by Friday, June 20th at William.Jakobi@Highmark.com or (716) 696-2172. The seminar will begin with a continental breakfast and networking opportunity from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., followed by presentations and a question-and-answer session from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

For More On Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield President Jessica Cox, Read: New Leadership At Union-Represented Highmark Western And Northeastern New York: President Jessica Cox’s ‘Appreciation’ Of Organized Labor Traced Back To Her Family’s Roots As Corrections Officers, Now ‘Aims To Build A Partnership With Local Unions’ - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York

And For More On Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Senior Labor Affairs Consultant Bill Jakobi, Read: Former Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council/United Way Of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Bill Jakobi Named New Senior Labor Affairs Consultant At Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York

And For More On The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at ECMC, Read: Labor & The Erie County Medical Center Join Together To ‘Celebrate’ The Center For Occupational & Environmental Medicine’s 10th Anniversary - Union-Collaborated Facility ‘Helps’ Workers Exposed To Adverse Conditions & Injuries In The Workplace - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York