(Washington, D.C.) – The following statement was released today by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), one of the largest private sector unions in the U.S. and the representative of 1.3 million workers in the grocery, retail and food manufacturing industries:
“Employer responsibility has been a cornerstone principle of the UFCW’s health care reform position for decades. The Administration’s announcement is disconcerting as it releases employers from the financial penalty from cutting its workers’ health insurance.
“The Administration’s decision to delay employer health care requirements appears to be a significant hand-out to employers.
“However, the fact that the Administration appears open to changing the rules encourages us to continue to advocate on behalf of Taft-Hartley health care plans that provide affordable, quality insurance to tens of millions of working families.”