Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
WASHINGTON -- Antilabor forces say it's welfare for the UAW and Democrats' union allies. Labor supporters say it falls short of what's needed as tens of thousands of union members are pushed into early retirement as employers cut back health care coverage.
They're both talking about a $10-billion provision tucked deep inside thousands of pages of health care overhaul bills that could help the UAW's retiree health-care plan and other union-backed plans.
It would see the government -- at least temporarily -- pay 80 cents on the dollar to corporate and union insurance plans for claims between $15,000 and $90,000 for retirees age 55 to 64.Greg Mourad of the National Right to Work Committee called it "a shameless case of political payback," saying Democrats and President Barack Obama are trying "to force the rest of us to pay billions to cover those unions' health care."
Labor advocates say even more funding may be needed.
"It is not enough money," said former U.S. Rep. David Bonior, a Mt. Clemens Democrat who chairs the board at Washington, D.C.-based American Rights at Work, a labor advocacy group. "That will have to be supplemented to fill the gap."
WASHINGTON -- Antilabor forces say it's welfare for the UAW and Democrats' union allies. Labor supporters say it falls short of what's needed as tens of thousands of union members are pushed into early retirement as employers cut back health care coverage.
They're both talking about a $10-billion provision tucked deep inside thousands of pages of health care overhaul bills that could help the UAW's retiree health-care plan and other union-backed plans.
It would see the government -- at least temporarily -- pay 80 cents on the dollar to corporate and union insurance plans for claims between $15,000 and $90,000 for retirees age 55 to 64.Greg Mourad of the National Right to Work Committee called it "a shameless case of political payback," saying Democrats and President Barack Obama are trying "to force the rest of us to pay billions to cover those unions' health care."
Labor advocates say even more funding may be needed.
"It is not enough money," said former U.S. Rep. David Bonior, a Mt. Clemens Democrat who chairs the board at Washington, D.C.-based American Rights at Work, a labor advocacy group. "That will have to be supplemented to fill the gap."
$10B aimed at union retirees | Detroit Free Press | Freep.com
______________________________________
Oh brother....
We bought the car companies. And their outstanding debt. How much more bailout money do you think they should get?
I don't think it's as cut and dried as you think it is. GM could have failed completely and all these people would be out on the street straining the communities where they live. The VEBA funds took stock in lieu of cash and the stocks are worth 30% of what they once were. The forced retirement of those in the gap age group are now hard to insure, and have no jobs. This presents a huge burden on an already badly hurting region.
We bought GM didn't we? So did we buy just the good parts like the buildings and the robotics and not the liabilities? These people did nothing wrong, they've worked for years and paid insurance premiums and are now out of a job and don't have insurance and are in an untenable position in trying to replace it.
I don't think it's as cut and dried as you think it is. GM could have failed completely and all these people would be out on the street straining the communities where they live. The VEBA funds took stock in lieu of cash and the stocks are worth 30% of what they once were. The forced retirement of those in the gap age group are now hard to insure, and have no jobs. This presents a huge burden on an already badly hurting region.
We bought GM didn't we? So did we buy just the good parts like the buildings and the robotics and not the liabilities? These people did nothing wrong, they've worked for years and paid insurance premiums and are now out of a job and don't have insurance and are in an untenable position in trying to replace it.
I don't think it's as cut and dried as you think it is. GM could have failed completely and all these people would be out on the street straining the communities where they live. The VEBA funds took stock in lieu of cash and the stocks are worth 30% of what they once were. The forced retirement of those in the gap age group are now hard to insure, and have no jobs. This presents a huge burden on an already badly hurting region.
We bought GM didn't we? So did we buy just the good parts like the buildings and the robotics and not the liabilities? These people did nothing wrong, they've worked for years and paid insurance premiums and are now out of a job and don't have insurance and are in an untenable position in trying to replace it.
A huge burden on an already hurting nation. It's sleazy and underhanded and yet another example of why they are freaking out that people are actually reading the healthcare bill. How long will this go on? I imagine thousands of people retire from GE every year. Will this be akin to a federal pension? Will this extend to INFINITY AND BEYOND?????
P.S. How many of us regular folks have lost a good chunk of our 401K's? Where's our fucking bail out?
It would see the government -- at least temporarily -- pay 80 cents on the dollar to corporate and union insurance plans for claims between $15,000 and $90,000 for retirees age 55 to 64.
I don't think it's as cut and dried as you think it is. GM could have failed completely and all these people would be out on the street straining the communities where they live. The VEBA funds took stock in lieu of cash and the stocks are worth 30% of what they once were. The forced retirement of those in the gap age group are now hard to insure, and have no jobs. This presents a huge burden on an already badly hurting region.
We bought GM didn't we? So did we buy just the good parts like the buildings and the robotics and not the liabilities? These people did nothing wrong, they've worked for years and paid insurance premiums and are now out of a job and don't have insurance and are in an untenable position in trying to replace it.
A huge burden on an already hurting nation. It's sleazy and underhanded and yet another example of why they are freaking out that people are actually reading the healthcare bill. How long will this go on? I imagine thousands of people retire from GE every year. Will this be akin to a federal pension? Will this extend to INFINITY AND BEYOND?????
P.S. How many of us regular folks have lost a good chunk of our 401K's? Where's our fucking bail out?
This is an appropriate thing for the healthcare bill, it addresses healthcare of a certain segment of the population that the public option wishes to address. It is however a contractual sidebar to the overall issue and was made separate because of that. I don't think it's sleazy or underhanded, it's part of the comprehensive look at what we're facing and an idea to fix it. It's a loose end. How would you fix it? Did you read the entire article?
