Retired local communication workers have been notified that EMBARQ will not honor Sprint's promise

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-08-17-0014.html

BLUFF CITY, Tenn. – Haynes Fink, 68, worked for Spint and its predecessor companies for 38 years before retiring in 1995. Two weeks ago he learned he will lose his company-paid health insurance coverage on Jan. 1.

"I feel like they broke a promise," Fink said Thursday as he held a retirement package that claimed the benefits would last him the rest of his life. "You plan your retirement and then they come along and take it away from you."

EMBARQ, which took over Sprint’s local telephone operations in February 2006, sent Fink and other retired Communications Workers of America members a letter explaining the benefits change on July 26.

The company announced it would no longer offer medical coverage to its Medicare-eligible retirees or their Medicare-eligible dependents after Jan. 1.

Those affected would automatically have Medicare coverage and may pick up any supplemental coverage they choose.

EMBARQ will also reduce its company-provided life insurance coverage from $20,000 to $10,000.

FULL story at link.

[napi21]

1. Oh my! Tha's awful. Can they really do that? I hate it, but I understand

when a legacy company changes it's policies and has it affect current employees, but they really should honor the committments to the retirees. Face it! How long are they really going to collect anyway?