Settlement in retiree premium suit? (My union WON!)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100830/NEWS97/100839977#settlement-in-retiree-premium-suit

Police, Fire, management, and craft. All four unions won collectively. Details in the next day or two. The executive boards of all four unions have to approve the settlement before it is official.


http://www.omaha.com/article/20100830/NEWS97/100839977#settlement-in-retiree-premium-suit

Lawyers for the City of Omaha and its employee unions are meeting this week to settle a lawsuit over whether Omaha can raise health care premiums for retired city workers.

A trial in the case was scheduled to begin Monday before U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon, but it was put on hold.

“We’re working on a settlement,” City Attorney Paul Kratz said.

Mayor Jim Suttle proposed the higher premiums as a way to save about $4.1 million annually, and the City Council agreed. But city employee unions sued, saying the higher premiums violate the terms of their labor contracts.

Bataillon has blocked the higher premium from taking effect until the lawsuit is decided.

-- Paul Goodsell

[aquart]

1. Congratulations?

I'll make it a question mark till you see what you actually won.

[Omaha Steve]

2. Retirees continue to pay the contracted amount for health insurance in force

at the time they retired. City pays our legal fees, costs, and a damage figure.

[aquart]

3. Then congratulations!

Winning ain't easy.