By Charlie Deitch
Pittsburgh Current Editor
charlie@pittsburghcurrent.com
Despite their best efforts, the Block Family, owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette must pay increased healthcare costs for their employees, according to an arbitrator’s ruling.
Arbitrator Jay Nadelbach wrote in his ruling:
“The grievance is upheld. The Employer violated the parties’ collective bargaining agreement by failing to maintain the agreed-upon health care benefits established in Article XX and as set forth in Exhibit B of the agreement.
“The Employer is directed to pay the amount necessary to maintain the specific health insurance benefit levels set forth therein (ie., all increases that may be required to keep the contractual level of benefits), subject to and until a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated and reached between the parties.
“Employees shall be made whole for any out-of-pocket monies paid as a result of the Employer’s failure to maintain the contractual level of benefits.
“This Award is final and binding.”