Tuesday, September 13, 2016
As members know, the OPS Employer has announced that anyone retiring under the Public Service Pension Plan after January 1, 2017, will be required to pay 50% of the cost of the premium for post-retirement benefits, such as vision care, drugs, dental, etc. (Those in receipt of a pension before 2017 will continue to have 100% of the premium paid.)
To add insult to injury, however, the Employer also informed AMAPCEO that enrolment in the post-retirement benefits plan would be compulsory, i.e., that retirees would not be permitted to opt out of the benefits, even if they had other coverage or did not want it, and would be forced to co-pay the premium. After AMAPCEO intervened to object, noting that other jurisdictions do not compel participation and questioning the legal authority for mandatory premiums, the Employer has reconsidered and now will give retirees the option to decline post-retirement benefits if they do not wish to receive them.
Read President Dave Bulmer’s letter to the employer: