Union braces for end of company health coverage

Lucky Friday Miners apart of the United Steelworkers (USW) Union Local 5114 Chapter gathered Wednesday to discuss their new health care plan.

The new emergency medical plan, provided by USW, will take the place of the miners’ current health care plan through Hecla Mining Co. and the Lucky Friday Mine.

USW 5114 president Phil Epler explains the miners will lose their coverage through the mine on April 1.

The loss of the plan is due to the miners not working the number of hours a month required to retain the insurance (as a result of the strike).

“The strike and defense fund are for things like this,” Epler said.

Under the emergency medical plan, the miners will be covered for many standard medical treatments and procedures such as emergency room visits, non-elective surgical procedures, mental health services, and diabetes treatments to name a few.

The plan does not cover many other significant areas though, such as ambulance expenses, physician office visits (sick/accident), and several types of therapy which could be problematic for the those who have used/ relied upon these services in the past under their old plan.

“It will be tough,” Epler said, “but our union is strong enough that it can get through this.”

Now on day 17 of the strike, both sides are more entrenched than ever and both have vowed to be in this for the long haul.

The Union has been busy as of late, gathering support for their cause from businesses and other Unions around the world, all-the-while carrying out pickets in certain areas in the Silver Valley and Coeur d’Alene.

Hecla on the other hand has remained mostly quiet regarding the strike since it began on March 13.

The initial strike vote on March 12, and the ensuing strike itself, was spurred by Hecla announcing on March 10 that the company planned to implement portions of its proposed “last, best, and final” offer for a new labor contract.

This offer, presented to the Union on Jan. 11, was unanimously rejected — 222 votes against, zero for — by the miners on Feb. 19 over several areas of disagreement.

The two sides have failed to come to an agreement over a new labor contract since the previous one expired on May 1, 2016.