Union Retiree Health Benefits for Mailroom Workers Cut

A St. Louis newspaper has come under fire for its decision to cut health benefits for union retirees. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch—already entangled in a legal action from the Newspaper Guild over retiree benefits—now must contend with a second lawsuit filed by a union representing its mailroom workers, according to PLANSPONSOR.com.

A union retiree health benefits lawsuit could potentially assist individuals who suffered a decrease in medical coverage.

Reportedly, the St. Louis Mailers Union No. 3, which represents 220 mailroom employees and retirees, seeks to regain healthcare benefits for 22 retirees who were booted from the company’s plan after a collective bargaining agreement expired on March 15. Under the now expired agreement, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reimbursed eligible retirees for their Medicare payments and provided healthcare benefits to anyone who had worked at the company for 10 years.

However, on March 18 the company allegedly made a unilateral policy change providing that retirees who want to be part of the employee health plan must pay the entire cost and are no longer eligible for Medicare reimbursements. A district court in Missouri is set to determine whether health benefits are a vested right owed to the 22 retirees by law.

This case is a recent example of the lawsuits being filed across the country on behalf of retired union employees who suffered a reduction in health care benefits. If you are a retired union member and your co-pays, premiums, prescription drug costs, yearly deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums or other healthcare costs have increased, you may also be eligible to partake in similar legal action. A union retiree health benefits lawsuit could potentially allow individuals who suffered a decrease in medical coverage the opportunity to collectively file a claim seeking compensation for the additional expenses associated with this reduction in coverage.