Arthur Bartlett v Light Metals Corporation
Light Metals Employees Sue for Violation of ERISA and Seek to Reclaim Pension Benefits
A class action lawsuit has been filed in the Western District Court of Michigan against Light Metals Corporation for violations of . Class members seek damages, declaratory and injunctive relief for breach of a collective bargaining agreement. They also seek to recover benefits due and to clarify rights to future benefits due under an employee welfare benefit plan and an employee pension plan.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that the plaintiffs were represented by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) and their Local 19 Union. The collective bargaining agreements gave retired employees and their spouses and eligible dependents, a vested contractual right to certain pension, health and other insurance benefits. However, in the fall of 2004, their employer notified retirees that it was reducing or completely terminating their retiree health insurance and pension benefits by refusing to pay for the monthly retiree health insurance premium and for the portion of the pension benefit representing the amount of the retiree health insurance premium for surviving spouses of retired employees, which plaintiffs allege is a violation of the labor management reporting and disclosure act and ERISA.
