Labor coalition: Railroads to offer same-sex benefits

Source: Omaha World Herald

Union employees of major U.S. railways will be able to get medical coverage for their same-sex spouses Jan. 1, a labor coalition said Wednesday, the day after a lawsuit over such benefits was filed against BNSF Railway.

The suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle and said same-sex spouses were routinely denied medical coverage by the freight hauler.

The dispute has been fast-moving. Wednesday afternoon, the rail company coalition that bargains with the 13 major unions representing rail workers said coverage would be available to same-sex spouses come January.

“The nation’s largest freight carriers will provide dependent health care coverage to eligible same-sex spouses of covered railroad employees effective Jan. 1, 2014,” the National Railway Labor Conference said. “While this is not a benefit required by law or under current collective bargaining agreements, the railroads agreed with labor to provide this benefit in light of recent changes allowing same-sex couples to access the same federal tax benefits provided to other married couples.”

FULL story at link.

Read more: By Russell Hubbard

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Again UNIONS protecting ALL workers civil rights!!!! (perceived or actual race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, or physical or mental disability)