Ford Motor Company Retirees v Ford Motor Company
Ford Retirees Granted Class Action Status
U.S. District Court Judge Arthur Tarnow granted class action status to a lawsuit filed by Ford UAW retirees. The lawsuit seeks to approve the landmark health care deal that the union and automaker approved by a razor-thin margin late last year. Under the agreement, retired autoworkers would start paying monthly contributions, annual deductibles and co-payments for some medical services up to a maximum of $370 a year for individuals and $752 for a family. Currently, employees do not pay these fees.
Hourly workers won't be required to pay deductibles or monthly contributions, but they will have to contribute part of their future wage increases to a trust for future health-care expenses. The agreement also raises the cost of prescription drugs and institutes a $50 emergency room fee for retirees.
Tarnow said Ford must inform retirees about the settlement agreement by March 10. Retirees who object to the agreement must file complaints with the court by April 28 if they wish to participate in a May 31 hearing on the fairness of the settlement.
