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OPINION OF TRUSTEES
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In Re

Complainant: Pensioner
Respondent: Employer
ROD Case No: 02-038 – January 30, 2007

Trustees: Micheal W. Buckner, A. Frank Dunham, Michael H. Holland, and Elliot A. Segal.

受托人审查了有关根据雇主福利计划条款提供福利的争议的事实和情况.

Background Facts

In June 1997, the Complainant was laid off by a signatory employer–not the Respondent.
Subsequently, 根据被投诉人与UMWA之间关于机密雇佣的两项和解协议，投诉人获得了欠薪. The first agreement addressed the period from June 28, 2000, to December 31, 2000. The second settlement agreement addressed the period from August 2002 to October 2002. 被申请人自1998年1月1日起签署了《皇冠搏彩中心网站》, 1998 to December 31, 2002.

投诉人申请养恤金福利，并根据1974年养恤金计划根据拖欠的工资获得养恤金贷记. The Complainant was notified by letter dated May 7, 2004, 根据1974年养老金计划，他获得了一笔特殊的永久性裁员养老金，10月1日生效, 2003. 信中还告知投诉人，被投诉人被指定为最后一个签字的雇主，该雇主曾雇用他从事一项机密工作. When a miner receiving a special permanent layoff pension attains age 55, he becomes eligible for health benefits coverage from his last signatory Employer. The Complainant attained age 55 on June 12, 2005, and sought health benefits coverage from the Respondent. 被投诉人拒绝向申诉人作为养恤金领取者提供医疗保险.

Dispute

当投诉人年满55岁时，被投诉人是否需要为其提供作为养恤金领取者的健康福利?

Positions of the Parties

投诉人的立场:当投诉人年满55岁时，被投诉人必须为其提供健康福利，因为他符合雇主福利计划规定的以养恤金领取者身份领取保险的要求.

Position of the Respondent: The Respondent is not required to provide health benefits coverage for the Complainant because of the following reasons: 1) the Complainant never worked for the Respondent; and 2) the Complainant retired from employment with another employer.

Pertinent Provisions

1998年《皇冠搏彩中心网站》第20条第(c)(3)(i)款相关部分规定:

(3)(i)各签署雇主应建立并维持员工福利计划，以提供, implemented through an insurance carrier(s), 本协议所涵盖的员工的健康和其他非养老金福利，以及1974年养老金计划和信托下的养老金领取者，其最后签署人的分类工作是在该雇主工作，并且没有资格从根据《皇冠搏彩中心》维持的计划中获得福利. . . .

* * *

Article I (2), (4) and (5) of the 1998 Employer Benefit Plan provides:

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

The following terms shall have the meanings herein set forth:

(2) “工资协议”指1998年全国烟煤工资协议, as amended from time to time and any successor agreement.

(4) “Employee” shall mean a person working in a classified job for the Employer, eligible to receive benefits hereunder.

(5) “Pensioner” shall mean any person who is receiving a pension, 除了(i)根据少于20年的记帐服务领取的递延既得退休金, (ii)全部或部分根据1974年养恤金计划第ii G条的规定记入的服务年数的养恤金, or any corresponding paragraph of any successor thereto, under the 1974 Pension Plan (or any successor thereto), whose last classified signatory employment was with the Employer, subject to the provisions of Article II B of this Plan; or (iii) a special permanent layoff pension under the terms of Article II.1974年养恤金计划E(4)，在该人达到55岁之前的任何时期. “养老金领取者”不指根据1986年《皇冠搏彩中心网站》第9711条享有福利的任何个人, as amended by the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992.

Article II B. (1) of the 1998 Employer Benefit Plan provides:

Article II – Eligibility

The persons eligible to receive health benefits pursuant to Article III are as follows:

B. Pensioners

Health benefits under Article III hereof shall be provided to Pensioners as follows:

(1) 任何退休金领取者，在

(a) such Pensioner’s initial date of retirement under the 1974 Pension Plan, and

(b) December 31, 1997, shall be eligible for coverage as a Pensioner under, and subject to all other provisions of this Plan. 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, 在12月5日符合1974年福利计划下领取养老金资格的任何此类养老金领取者, 1977, shall be eligible for such benefits, subject to all other provisions of this Plan.

Discussion

雇主福利计划第I (5)(iii)条将“养老金领取者”定义为除第II E条规定的“特殊永久性裁员养老金”外领取养老金的任何人员. (4) 1974年养恤金计划，在该人达到55岁之前的任何时期.” Article II B. 《皇冠搏彩中心》第(1)条规定，在雇主福利计划下被定义为“养老金领取者”的个人有资格获得健康福利，但某些例外情况与此无关. 投诉人领取一笔特殊的永久性失业抚恤金，于2005年6月12日年满55岁. Therefore, effective June 12, 2005, 申诉人符合第一条第5款(三)项下"养恤金领取者"的定义，并符合第二条B项下作为养恤金领取者享有医疗保险的资格.
被申请人是1998年工资协议的签署人，该协议根据第XX(c)(3)(i)条规定，签署人雇主必须建立和维持雇主福利计划，为其上一个签署人分类就业的退休人员提供健康和其他非养老金福利.

被投诉人不同意将被投诉人指定为投诉人最后的签字雇主. 雇主对养老金资格决定的质疑，如指定养老金领取者的最后一个签署雇主，必须在工资协议第XX (g)条授权的单独程序中提出，受托人不得在ROD程序中处理. The Respondent’s status was addressed under the aforementioned procedure, and the Respondent’s designation as such was confirmed.

Opinion of the Trustees

被投诉人必须为投诉人作为养恤金领取者提供医疗保险, effective June 12, 2005, consistent with the terms of the Employer Benefit Plan.