To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Modfied Petition--Support HR 1856 in the 114th Congress-- Employee Benefits Protection Act of 2015
GE's recent decision to end Healthcare for Post-65 Salaried Retirees is an obscene example of the need for HR 1322 EARNED HEALTHCARE RETIREES PROTECTION ACT. Like ERISA and PBGC legislation...now is the time for Legislation to protect EARNED Healthcare Benefits for Retirees. We are asking every member of Congress to Reconsider this Needed Bill/Legislation--
Summary of HR1322--
Earned Retiree Healthcare Benefits Protection Act of 2011 - amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish an enforceable obligation on sponsors of group health plans to restore health benefits previously taken away from plan participants to the extent such benefits were cancelled or altered after their retirement.
Prohibits group health plans from reducing retiree health benefits after the retirement of a plan beneficiary. Requires such plans to adopt provisions barring post-retirement reductions in retiree health benefits.
Requires group health plan sponsors to grant benefit restoration to retired plan participants. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to waive or vary requirements for benefit restoration if compliance with such requirements would: (1) be adverse to the interests of plan participants in the aggregate, (2) not be administratively feasible, and (3) cause substantial business hardship to plan sponsors.
Authorizes the Secretary to assess civil penalties for violations of this Act.
Summary of HR1322--
Earned Retiree Healthcare Benefits Protection Act of 2011 - amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish an enforceable obligation on sponsors of group health plans to restore health benefits previously taken away from plan participants to the extent such benefits were cancelled or altered after their retirement.
Prohibits group health plans from reducing retiree health benefits after the retirement of a plan beneficiary. Requires such plans to adopt provisions barring post-retirement reductions in retiree health benefits.
Requires group health plan sponsors to grant benefit restoration to retired plan participants. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to waive or vary requirements for benefit restoration if compliance with such requirements would: (1) be adverse to the interests of plan participants in the aggregate, (2) not be administratively feasible, and (3) cause substantial business hardship to plan sponsors.
Authorizes the Secretary to assess civil penalties for violations of this Act.
Why is this important?
To stop the erosion of healthcare benefits for retirees by large corporations (i.e.-GE, Time-Warner, IBM, AT&T, etc.). This petition supports the Rocheleau/Kaufman salaried lawsuit & the IUE-CWA hourly lawsuit Versus GE--Over Retiree Healthcare Changes.
It presumes that retiree health benefits cannot be modified or terminated as of the date an employee retires or completes 20 years of service with the employer.
It amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice for a labor organization and employer to enter into a contract or agreement to modify a previous agreement in a manner that results in a reduction or termination of retiree health insurance benefits, if the modification occurs after the retiree's retirement date.
Note: Formerly HR1322 & HR 5523 in Former Congressional Years
It presumes that retiree health benefits cannot be modified or terminated as of the date an employee retires or completes 20 years of service with the employer.
It amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice for a labor organization and employer to enter into a contract or agreement to modify a previous agreement in a manner that results in a reduction or termination of retiree health insurance benefits, if the modification occurs after the retiree's retirement date.
Note: Formerly HR1322 & HR 5523 in Former Congressional Years