Fire union sues Duluth over retiree health-care benefits

The city of Duluth’s fire union is suing the city over retiree health care, seeking to prevent retired firefighters from having their health benefits changed.

The union brought the suit on behalf of three firefighters who were “contemplating retirement” and asked for assurances from the city that their health-care benefits would remain the same as under the current contract, according to legal documents filed on Monday.

The city, however, declined to offer that protection and “took the position that retiree health benefits are not fixed at the time of retirement but may be modified or changed in the future by the city as active employees,” the suit says.

The union appears to be challenging a ruling made last year by Judge Kenneth Sandvik that allowed the city to modify retiree health-care benefits to mirror those of active employees.

Union President Erik Simonson declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The city believes the union has no grounds for the lawsuit because no one has yet retired and no one has been harmed, said Duluth Chief Administrative Officer David Montgomery.

If the suit does proceed to court or arbitration, Montgomery said he believes the city will prevail and still will be able to modify retiree health care to match active employees’ benefits.

“The city feels that it’s a critical right we have to keep the city’s financial viability,” Montgomery said.

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