USW Disputes Analysts Date Claim

(Akron/Tire Review) The United Steelworkers union has attacked a report by Himansho Patel, an analyst with JP Morgan Securities, which suggests a key date in the union’s current strike against Goodyear could be 3 January – the date plant worker medical benefit coverage lapses. USW International Vice President Tom Conway sharply criticized the report. “The facts are that the real cut-off date is in mid-April,” Conway Stated in a press release issued 29 November “COBRA legislation gives you 60 days to make a decision to continue (your health care coverage) and another 45 days before you have to make a payment.” However, workers electing to continue medical coverage under COBRA are still liable for those premiums.