A. J. (Jim) Norby
anorbz@aol.com
Retiree Group Calls on
President, Congress
To Overturn ‘Discriminatory’
EEOC Ruling
(WASHINGTON,
April 21, 2004) – An organization representing nearly 2 million
retirees from many of America’s leading companies charged today that
the White House has been silent while the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has passed a rule stripping older
retirees of their health care benefits from former employers.
Jim
Norby, president of the National Retirees Legislative Network
(NRLN), called on President Bush to stop the implementation of a
rule passed on April 22 by the commission. That rule allows
employers to reduce or eliminate retiree health care benefits to
Medicare-eligible retirees.
“More than 12 million retirees on Medicare earned benefits from
their former employers through decades of dedicated service,” Norby
said. “Now the executive branch agency created to protect Americans
against discrimination has brought this onslaught against our oldest
citizens, many of whom are struggling to survive on their fixed
incomes.”
The EEOC voted 3-1 to approve a rule
stating that such cuts do not violate the civil rights law banning
age discrimination. The vote was along party lines with three
Republicans lining up in favor of the rule and a Democrat opposing
it.
“The welfare of retirees on Medicare
is too important to be treated as a political football,” Norby
said. “If the White House doesn’t take immediate action to prevent
this rule from taking effect, then Congress should overturn it
through legislation.”
According to Norby, the EEOC has
usurped Congress’ authority by setting public policy in this
manner. “Medicare was not designed to eliminate employer-sponsored
retirement health care benefits.” Norby said, “but it is highly
likely this will be the result of this rule.”
“We join
AARP and all other organizations outraged over White House
insensitivity toward retirees, many who are war veterans, and their
attitude that taxpayers should pay the health care bill for
corporations. The argument that companies would cancel plans were it
not for this rule is self-serving nonsense. Companies can cancel
without this discriminatory ruling. The EEOC is a pawn”
Based in Washington, D.C., NRLN represents nearly 2 million retirees
from Association of US WEST Retirees, Association of BellTel
Retirees, Association of Prudential Retirees, Association of
Raytheon Retirees, Monsanto Retirees Association, along with groups
from Xerox, Boeing, GE, GM, IBM, Johns Manville, Lucent, AT&T,
Portland Electric (Enron), SNET, Western Union, Continental Tire and
others. .