Union denies benefits to gay couples | Boston Globe

[Ediacara]

Union denies benefits to gay couples

By Donovan Slack, Globe Staff | May 11, 2004

A Boston labor union representing some 6,000 members has amended its benefit plans to exclude gay married couples from receiving health and pension benefits, evoking fear in some labor unions in Massachusetts that the move will set a dangerous precedent for other unions and employers throughout the state.

Anticipating the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts next week, trustees and administrators of the benefit plans of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 issued a clarification of the phrase "dependent spouse" to mean "a person of the opposite sex." The clarification was announced in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Globe, sent Friday to union members throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

"In light of all the changes that are coming, we just wanted to be ahead of the curve and make the clarification," administrator Russell F. Sheehan said in an interview yesterday.

More at the Boston Globe

[w4rma]

1. Imho, they are opening themselves up to a costly lawsuit.

This obviously isn't going to fly in Massachusetts, considering the recent State Supreme Court case.

[question everything]

2. Even the WSJ provides benefits to partners of its employees n/t

[Terran]

3. That's messed up.

Unionism is *supposed* to stand for the dignity and equality of *all* working people. They've betrayed their ideals.

[dusty64]

9. In many ways todays

unions have become just another big business with their leaders getting fat off the trough. Many unions have lost their way and forgotten their roots and this is just more proof of it, their (some) kissing up to rethugs is another example. They, like so many other formerly beneficial organizations (aarp comes to mind) need to be purged by their members and brought back to the ideals they supposedly stand for.

[BiggJawn]

4. IBEW...Figures....

I'm a former IBEW "brother". I believe in Organized Labour and what it has brought to ALL American workers, but I gotta tell ya, the IBEW local I belonged to was about the biggest waste of money, next to "enhanced cable" I think they ever invented...

[LincolnMcGrath]

5. Did you go all the way through the APP Program?

[BiggJawn]

10. We were a Factory local, not Trades.

I was an assembly worker, and if you wanted to advanced into the Trades, it was the company's descision, not the Union.

Basically, the Company told the Union what was gonna happen, and the local prez would tell us "it's better than seeing your jobs go to Shreveport", which is where they went anyway...

[LincolnMcGrath]

11. Sorry

Electrical trade apps were chosen by the company, Or are you talking factory maint. advances?

[BiggJawn]

12. Maintenance. This was a factory local...

We weren't "Wire Twisters". I had a buddy who was, and he asked me once if I was interested in being an apprentice, but at the time, he was 2 months into a 4-month seasonal lay-off, and I didn't think that looked so enticing....

Besides, this was almost 30 years ago....

[mitchtv]

6. as a long time Union member and officer(CWA & TIU )

I never thought I would say that I would quit the Union, In this case however, as a gay, I would be on my way,( After I ran on an oppositon ticket)

[sniffa]

7. f'n maggots

gee, that biLLboard they run (next to the x-way) - it aLways says something nasty about some company demanding yada yada such as: "teLL shaws that workers have a right to heaLth insurance"

but screw them queers!

i wonder how their gay members feeL about it?

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

8. Construction trades are pretty right wing...

...from what I heard, the construction unions, next to the Teamsters, are the most right wing of the unions.

I recall the Teamsters local in Louisville came out against the local gay rights ordnance.