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受托人的意见
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在再保险

原告: 未亡配偶
被申请人: 雇主
ROD案例编号: 81-629 - 1986年8月25日

董事会:Joseph P. 康纳斯,老., Chairman; Paul R. Dean,受托人; William B. Jordan,受托人; William Miller,受托人; Donald E. 皮尔斯,小.,受托人.

Pursuant to Article IX of the United Mine Workers of America (“UMWA”) 1950 Benefit Plan and Trust, 并根据美国劳工部授予的豁免授权, the Trustees have reviewed the facts and circumstances of this dispute concerning death benefits for the surviving spouse of a Pensioner under the terms of the 雇主 Benefit Plan.

背景事实

The Complainant is the widow of a Pensioner last employed in the bituminous coal Industry by the Respondent. The Pensioner was awarded a 1974 Plan Age 55 Retirement Pension, effective August 1, 1978. 这位退休老人于3月18日去世, 1985, 申诉人随后获得1974年计划未亡配偶津贴.

The Respondent signed the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement (“Wage Agreement”) of 1981, 9月30日到期的, 1984, and entered independent negotiations for a successor agreement with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) in August 1984. The Respondent reports that during the initial negotiations it agreed to continue providing health and non-pension benefits beyond the expiration of the 1981 Wage Agreement for 养老金领取者 last employed by the Respondent, 前提是UMWA不打击被投诉人的业务. 1984年10月22日，UMWA有选择地打击了被告的业务. 答辩人在1984年10月31日之后停止提供医疗和非养恤金福利.

The Respondent and UMWA representatives continued negotiations and signed the 1984 Wage Agreement on March 20, 1985, whereby Respondent would provide health and non-pension benefits to 养老金领取者 effective April 1, 1985. 在谅解备忘录中, the Respondent also agreed to establish an escrow account to be used to provide Its Employees with health benefits for claims incurred for services during the strike period.

被告辩称，在罢工期间, 11月1日起, 1984年至四月一日, 1985, 当时没有工资协议生效, it had no obligation under the 雇主 benefit Plan to provide health and non-pension benefits to 养老金领取者. The Respondent claims that during this period such benefits were the responsibility of the UMWA Strike Fund. 因为申诉人的丈夫于3月18日去世, 1985, 在1984年工资协议签署前不久, the Respondent denies responsibility for providing a life insurance benefit to the Complainant.

争端

Whether the Respondent is responsible for providing a life insurance benefit to the Complainant following the expiration of the 1981 Wage Agreement and before the effective date of the 1984 Wage Agreement.

双方立场

Position of the 原告: The Respondent is responsible for the provision of a life Insurance benefit to the Complainant.

Position of the 被申请人: Respondent is not responsible for the provision of a life Insurance benefit to the Complainant, 因为领取养恤金者的死亡发生在《皇冠搏彩中心》未涵盖的期间.

相关的规定

1981年《皇冠搏彩中心》第20 (C)(3)(i)条规定:

(3) (1) Each signatory 雇主 shall establish and maintain an Employee benefit plan to provide, 通过保险公司实施, health and other non-pension benefits for Its Employees covered by this Agreement as well as pensioners, 1974年养恤金计划和信托皇冠搏彩中心网站, 谁的最后一个签署人曾受雇于该雇主. The benefits provided by the 雇主 to Its eligible Participants pursuant to such plans shall be guaranteed during the term of this Agreement by that 雇主 at levels set forth in such plans. Such plans shall also include that each signatory 雇主 continue to make to death benefit payments in pay status as of December 5, 1977, for deceased Employees and pensioners under the 1974 Pension Plan 谁的最后一个签署人曾受雇于该雇主, in the same manner and in the same amounts as previously provided for in the 1974 Benefit Plan and Trust. The plans established pursuant to this subsection are incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement, and the terms and conditions under which the health and other non-pension benefits will be provided under such plans are as to be set forth in such plans.

雇主福利计划第I(1)、(2)、(4)和(5)条规定:

第一条-定义

下列术语具有本协议规定的含义:

(1) “雇主”指(雇主名称).

(2) “工资协议”指1983年全国烟煤工资协议, 如不时修订及任何后续协议.

(4) “雇员”系指为雇主从事保密工作的人员, 有资格获得本协议项下的福利.

(5) “养老金领取者”系指领取养老金的任何人, 除了(i)根据少于20年的记帐服务领取的递延既得退休金, or (ii) a pension based in whole or in part on years of service credited under the terms of Article II & 1974年养恤金计划, 或其任何继承者的任何相应段落, 根据1974年退休金计划(或其任何后续计划), 谁的最后一次机密签署工作是在雇主处, 以本计划第二条B款的规定为准.

雇主福利计划第II B(1)条规定:

第二条-资格
B. 养老金领取者

Health benefits and life insurance under Article III hereof shall be provided to 养老金领取者 as follows:

(1) 任何退休金领取者，在

(a) 根据1974年养恤金计划领取养恤金者的最初退休日期;及

(b) 6月7日, 1981, 都有资格作为养老金领取者享受以下的保险, 并受本计划所有其他条款的约束. 尽管本计划第i(5)条对退休金领取人的定义有(i)及(ii)项规定, any such Pensioner who was eligible for benefits under the 1974 Benefit Plan as a Pensioner on December 5, 1977, 都有资格享受这些福利, 受本计划所有其他条文规限.

雇主福利计划第III B(2)条规定:

B. 人寿及意外死亡及伤残保险

(2) 养老金领取者

在第二条所述养恤金领取者死亡时, 部分B, life insurance shall be paid in a lump sum to the Pensioner’s named Beneficiary in the following amounts:

(a) $2,500如果该养恤金领取者在死亡时有受抚养人，或

(b) 如果该养恤金领取者在死亡时没有受扶养人，赔偿2 000美元.

讨论

Article XX(c)(3)(i) of the 1981 Wage Agreement requires a signatory employer to establish and maintain an 雇主 Benefit Plan to provide health and other non-pension benefits for its pensioners and their eligible dependents. The Respondent provided such benefits to the Pensioner and Complainant through the term of the 1981 Wage Agreement and during the first month of negotiations after the expiration of the 1981 Wage Agreement.

The issue in this case is whether the 雇主’s obligation to provide health and non-pension benefits under the 雇主 Benefit Plan extends beyond the expiration of the 1981 Wage Agreement. 美国联邦第四巡回上诉法院，位于华盛顿特区. 美国煤矿工人联合会，等. al. v. 皇家煤炭公司., 768 F. 2d 588, 592(第4卷. 1985年)及Dist. 美国煤矿工人联合会，等. al. v. 联合公司.等., 765 F. 412,417(第4章. 1985)(全体会议), has ruled that an 雇主’s contractual obligation to provide health and other non-pension benefits to its pensioners does not extend beyond the expiration of the Wage Agreement.

受托人的意见

The Respondent is not responsible for providing a life insurance benefit to the Complainant during the period 当时没有工资协议生效.