PITTSBURGH -- Thousands of Bethlehem Steel Corp. retirees who feared losing their health benefits this month have won a reprieve, the United Steelworkers Union said Thursday.þþSteelworkers President Leo Gerard said the union and company negotiated an agreement to maintain health coverage for six months longer under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.þþThe 95,000 retirees and dependents will be able to get the same coverage at the same rates they now pay under COBRA while the union works to arrange other options, Gerard said.þþThe bankrupt steelmaker had planned to end retirees' health-care benefits March 31 in preparation for the $1.5 billion sale of its assets to International Steel Group.þ
Source: Chicago Tribune
