2 days after our petition was sent, the two parties had reached a 3-year agreement. Here is the news release from AETNA. The petition may not have directly done any good, but I still think it is worthwhile for consumers to speak up and protest when corporations decide they can charge the same amount for a much-degraded commodity (and unfortunately, health care is primarily seen by both Democrats and Republicans as a profit-generating commodity in the USA). –Suzanne Verderbe

The following was sent to 39 parties (see the “CC” list at bottom). We can only keep our fingers crossed that speaking up ultimately does some good. Ronald A. Williams Chairman and Chief Executive, Aetna Inc. Hartford, CT 06156 July 23, 2010 Dear Mr. Williams, We the undersigned are faculty members and administrators at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. The Pratt administration has chosen to subscribe to Aetna for health coverage, a situation over which we have minimal

Dear Pratt colleagues, The UFCT would like to submit the following letter, inclusive of all faculty and administrators covered by AETNA, to AETNA expressing our displeasure at their failed negotiations with Continuum. If you would like to have your name added to the letter, please reply with your full name and title to Suzanne Verderber, UFCT 1460 Vice President, at sverderb@pratt.edu, by July 14, 2010. Sincerely, The UFCT 1460 Executive Committee and Grievance Team. Ronald