BREAKING: Pawtucket School Workers Win War on Health Care Retirement Breach
Friday, January 13, 2012
Pawtucket School Employees rescued health insurance retiree benefits that the City of Pawtucket had been draining for the past 5 years, proving that the city had breached its promise to provide retirees with medical benefits until they reach 65.
“When a town comes to an agreement with employees, they have to keep that agreement,” said J. Michael Downey, President of RI Council 94, the union that filed the case on the school workers. “Contract still means something in Rhode Island.”
The City of Pawtucket began billing retired school workers for health insurance in 2007, after guaranteeing their benefits for a number of years. Council 94 brought the case to court in 2010, but the dispute was not resolved until going before Judge Taft-Carter this year. Taft-Carter ruled in their favor.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The Court’s decision represents a significant victory for retirees by affirming that employers cannot unilaterally cut retirement benefits,” said Downey. “We look forward to having the Court determine the appropriate remedy for these retirees.”