Union Sues Mich. County Over Retiree Premiums

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has filed a class action suit against Wayne County, Mich., challenging the county’s premium increases for retirees’ life insurance., AFSCME, Washington, along with 3 retirees, filed a class action suit arguing the union’s retirees had paid level premiums for about 40 years. Then, without notice, the county’s Retirement Board decreed that premiums would henceforth be age-related, the suit charged. The union noted cases where elderly retirees’ premiums rose from about $27 a month to over $79.