In October, Nevada Energy called a meeting for about 300 retirees in Reno announcing a massive cut in retiree health care benefits. Nevada Energy refused to negotiate with Local 1245 about benefits under the contract expiring later this year and has unilaterally decided to set up a defined medical insurance benefit caps the company's share of health care insurance costs at the 2009 level and force all retirees to pick up any future increases.
Nevada Energy retirees (at right) decided to organize to defend themselves and other retirees who had worked many years to retire with dignity. (Photo courtesy IBEW)
Before 1998, the electrical workers' union (IBEW Local 1245) negotiated for the company to pick up 100 percent of medical insurance benefits for retirees. That changed in 1998, when prospective retirees agreed to pick up 20 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums in exchange for an early retirement plan that would allow workers to retire at age 55 if they had 30 or more years of service. The situation would change significantly for retirees if Nevada Energy's plan to cap health benefits starting January 1 goes through.
"It used to be if you were loyal to the company, they were loyal to you," said Mickie Baryol, who retired last year as an Auto-CAD draftsman and is currently active in defending the rights of Nevada Energy retirees.
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