Calling on new boycott of Raley's supermarkets. Screwing over retirees

[warrior1]

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/05/4031970/raleys-to-halt-health-coverage.html


Raley's to halt health coverage for some retirees 65-plus
[email protected]
Published Saturday, Nov. 05, 2011

Raley's will stop providing health coverage to its retired hourly employees 65 and older in July 2012, the supermarket chain said in a letter to retirees.
The letter, dated Oct. 24 and signed by Michael Teel, Raley's president and chief executive officer, said the chain is struggling to maintain profitability amid a down economy, increased competition and escalating health costs.
"Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn and increased competition we are struggling to sustain our business," the letter read. "We have … determined that Raley's can no longer cover the cost of this benefit."

Raley's declined to comment Friday, but Jerry Landers, its senior director of human resources, issued a written statement reiterating the reasons for the change given in the letter.
The statement also noted, "We are continuing to provide generous medical coverage for our retirees under the age of 65, which is the most expensive time for individuals to purchase their own plans."

But retired hourly workers over age 65, like Shirley Kinnett, 75, of Sacramento will have to pay for the coverage out of pocket starting July 1, 2012, carving out cash from a fixed income.
"I know retirees are going to be distraught by this. They've got to be," Kinnett said.
The former accounts payable clerk worked 19 years for the West Sacramento-based grocery chain before retiring at 63 in 1999.
Her retirement plaque still hangs on the wall in her home office, the inscription lauding her "conscientious and excellent performance," and wishing her good health and happiness in retirement.

snip

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/21/biz_06privates_Raleys_VY3M.html

[Auggie]

1. AKA Bel Air Markets, Food Source, Nob Hill Foods...

and we spend a fortune there.

[warrior1]

2. What is so sad

is, it would break their backs to cover the cost of health care for the retirees. With the money they rake in, it's pennies to take care of them.

[Obamanaut]

3. Can the "...retired hourly workers over age 65..." use Medicare? That is working

well for this retired worker over age 65. And wife.

[juajen]

5. With the additional policy, the retiree probably has no additional

cost, as I do, every time I go to the doctor. Because of this and my static income, I rarely go to the doctor's office. Even emergencies are expensive for people who live on a fixed income, and her hourly work is so she can have more money to live on, not to live well, but adequately. One policy would be primary and the other policy would pay after the primary pays.

[FarCenter]

4. Retirees over '65 are on Medicare

Which would be Medicare Advantage if through a health insurance company, including insurance for retirees on a company plan, or they are on Medicare A,B and D directly from CMS.

[LiberalEsto]

6. This is starting to happen everywhere

The union contract with Giant, a big DC-area supermarket chain, expires in February 2012. I'm told the company wants to get rid of its pension obligations. This is not going to go down well with employees who've already been screwed with shortened work hours that lead to elimination of health benefits and other things.

[onethatcares]

7. all the more reason for the American Health Care Affordability Act

or Obamacare if you will.

Jeeez, won't these companies ever see the light? Better still, why can't they see that truly single payer universal healthcare is what we need.