Rush Workers Win Health Care Arbitration Award

CHICAGO, July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers at Rush University Hospital won a major victory in their struggle to maintain their health care benefits that had been unilaterally changed in 2005.

Arbitrator Amedeo Greco ruled that Rush Hospital violated the agreement with Teamsters Local 743 when it replaced two health insurance plans implemented a new, more costly health insurance plan without negotiating with the union.

The arbitrator ordered Rush to restore the previous plans or provide equivalent plans to the affected employees before January 1, 2006. Rush has also been ordered to make whole those employees who have suffered any monetary losses.

"Rush has tried all kind of legal maneuvers to stall negotiations. Fortunately, the arbitrator saw through this," said Robert Walston, Local 743 President. "We hope that Rush will make a good faith effort to come to a fair and equitable contract without any further legal wrangling."

The decision was issued July 12 and was based on a hearing was held March 11, 2005 and subsequent briefs.

Local 743 represents more than 13,000 members in the health care, professional, technical and office fields. It is an affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.

CONTACT: Brian Rainville of Teamsters Joint Council 25, +1-202-437-6367

Web site: http://www.teamster.org//