Government plans to increase civil servants' health insurance.

Bermuda Public Service Association general secretary Edward Ball said the union -- a member of the Government Employee Health Insurance Board -- had no knowledge that of a submission for the monthly $19 rate increase.

"The Bermuda Public Service Association is cognisant that taxes are necessary to fund Government capital projects and to pay Government employees,'' Mr.

Ball said. "However it would appear that the Honourable Finance Minister (Dr.

Grant Gibbons) does not consider Trade Unions to be business partners in this case.''