Over the past two years, we here at Raytheon have watched as the company has systematically cut our retirees' medical benefits. They have increased co-pays, raised deductibles, and are now threatening to eliminate prescription drug cards completely for anyone who is on Medicare. The company states in their letter to our retirees that they no longer need this benefit because of Medicare's new prescription plan. As of yet, I haven't met anyone who can explain this Medicare Prescription Plan, or if it is going into effect January 1, 2006.
We are not just sitting idly. Two years ago, with the help of our International Rep. Mike Hall, we turned this issue over to the UAW Legal Department. They immediately assigned us an attorney to investigate. We have sent our attorney everything from old contracts to recent letters from the company pertaining to this issue. The investigation has taken longer than we thought it would; however, when I thought about it, we are not the only bargaining unit with legal issues and it is a very complicated case. There are many issues that our legal department has to consider, such as Texas being a very conservative and anti-labor state with a judicial system to match. Then we have the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to possibly deal with. In my opinion, there is not a more conservative court in the land.
All of these issues could add up to this case not going our way. That, Brothers and Sisters, could be catastrophic for more than just us here at Raytheon. We do not want to set a precedent that could hurt our Brothers and Sisters throughout the labor movement. I am saying all of this to explain why our attorney has taken so much time and is being especially cautious toward this case. I know that our retirees have shown tremendous patience and, in some cases, may have given up.
I want to ask you not to give up! Our attorney told me just the other day that, when they return to work from their "shut down," he is going to present our case to his boss with a recommendation that they proceed with this litigation. We must continue our struggle with the faith that it will move forward and our issues will be resolved.
--David Dennis