Victory for Contraceptive Equity

EUGENE, OREGON

Michelle Mattern will always remember the autumn of 2002. She started a new job, learned that her health insurance didn't cover birth-control prescriptions, and — through her union — became an outspoken and successful advocate for change.

Contraceptives had been covered at her previous job, so Mattern was shocked when the pharmacy wouldn't accept her prescription drug card. She couldn't afford to shell out $600 a year.

Mattern works in the city prosecutor's office and knew that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) had issued a ruling on contraceptive coverage. So she filed an EEOC suit and went to her union.

"AFSCME was much more supportive than the city had been," says Mattern. Local 1724 (Council 75) Pres. Dal Ollek declared to city management that Eugene had to comply. And armed with further information from Council 75 and the International's Women's Rights Department, he "persuaded" the city to reverse course. By January 2003, Eugene employees and their dependents had coverage for reversible contraceptives — like the pill. Hundreds have benefited because Mattern took a stand.

Now she and Council 75 are pushing for legislation that would require all Oregon employers that provide other preventive medications to cover all forms of reversible contraceptives.