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Century Aluminum retirees picket for health care benefits
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
About 50 retirees from Century Aluminum's Ravenswood plant hit the picket lines Thursday morning to tell the company they will not back down in their fight to have their health care benefits reinstated.
The picket was supposed to mark the last day of health care benefits for the company's early retirees - those between the ages of 55 and 65. But in a last minute move, the company has agreed to temporarily cover health care costs for retirees in that group.
In February 2009, the company closed its Jackson County aluminum smelter, which was a cornerstone of the local economy for more than 50 years. As a result, 651 people lost their jobs.
Early last year, the company told retirees 65 and older it would no longer cover the health care benefits that had been negotiated under a contract with the United Steelworkers Union. Later in the year, the company told early retirees they too would lose their coverage.
Coverage ended Jan. 1, and the company has been covering the retiree's COBRA costs since then. However, that coverage was set to end today.
But the company informed retirees by mail early this week of its decision to tap into funds granted last year under a federal program designed to extend benefits for early retirees.
The picket was supposed to mark the last day of health care benefits for the company's early retirees - those between the ages of 55 and 65. But in a last minute move, the company has agreed to temporarily cover health care costs for retirees in that group.
In February 2009, the company closed its Jackson County aluminum smelter, which was a cornerstone of the local economy for more than 50 years. As a result, 651 people lost their jobs.
Early last year, the company told retirees 65 and older it would no longer cover the health care benefits that had been negotiated under a contract with the United Steelworkers Union. Later in the year, the company told early retirees they too would lose their coverage.
Coverage ended Jan. 1, and the company has been covering the retiree's COBRA costs since then. However, that coverage was set to end today.
But the company informed retirees by mail early this week of its decision to tap into funds granted last year under a federal program designed to extend benefits for early retirees.
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