Considering the current economic climate it was really surprising or maybe not , the union representing Milwaukee teachers went to court to fight for free Viagra under their health insurance plan. The Associated Press broke the story to today the union is asking for all erectile dysfunction medicine to be covered at no cost to union members. The cost per pill is $20. The district is quoted in the article that the benefit is estimated to cost $786,000. That is enough to fund 12 entry level teacher positions.

Lawyer for the union Barbara Quindel said she thought the case was worth fighting for even though the finances of the district were "grim". Almost 500 teachers were laid off at the end of the 2010 school year. Later 89 teachers were rehired. The reason for the layoffs is the district budget shortfall. The union could have saved the jobs if they had switched to the State of Wisconsin program or paid a small amount more for their premiums. They currently have a Cadillac plan for which they make very little contribution.
The union lost an arbitrator decision in 2008 regarding providing Viagra. Employees in the current State of Wisconsin program do not have this benefit because drugs like Viagra are considered "lifestyle enhancements." The union claims the drugs are necessary to treat " an exclusively gender related condition".