A& - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 20, 2004 Retired workers sue gov't over benefits _ By MARGARET SPEIRS - FORMER... PROVINCIAL. fj - government: émployees ‘are - suing the provincial govern” -ment.over cutbacks.to their medical services plan and | extended health. benefits. | promised - “during: their. ca- “feers. : ployees’: pensioners, ‘More: ‘than. 150 ‘members, . of the association live:in the - northwest, says Norina King, . vice-chair of. the’ northwest branch. that ‘stretches ‘from Charlottes”. to - the. Queen: Houston and north to ‘Adin, ‘She | said ©: oss to-B.C. ‘public relirces.: King. said the: provincial’ : goverment promised its. re-" ; _ tirees while they. wére' work-" ing, that their’ benefits from” the. Public Service Pension - Plan would: continue: during. their, retirement years:". . However, recent ciaibacks ae eliminated: these benefits for ‘: ‘leaving hem to a ee ~ then: received an 80 per cent: reti rees, pay.” - . “When. a: pel sioner. “has to. pay that-out of his. own.” pocket, and their incomes - = _ are fixed, it becomes a. mat- :.° the. deductible, has. jumped.’ ter of whether they’have:a” _ better ‘quality: of life," she. said, “AS: YOU: age, “you “Te. _a little more. dependent on. _ things like that.” an She cites the examplec ofa , retiree going toa chiroprac-” - tic ‘or podiatrist visit, filling .- “necessary. prescriptions ‘and we The. président of the: B. C. ‘Government. Retired - Em-: J Association, . Ed. Bodner, brought: ‘the class. . - action Jawsuit”against ‘the - provincial: government ° on: @ behalf of its 2h 000 ‘fetired: the lawsuit claims: damages i in the $100 .- - million ratige ~. this’ year "S “NORMA KING Says | more than 150 retired: government - _ workers ‘in the: northwest: may ‘be affected by a new class ¢ action lawsuit. _MARGARET SPEIRS PHOTO - : pe ‘aids. That person. paid. thie $25 . , deductible ‘and: the. remain- medical treatment.” . “King. said with ciitbacks “turned has been. seduced: ‘to 0 per cent.- buying eyeglasses ‘or hear ing ‘cast. would ‘come: from: the health ‘plan, ‘The retiree... -to.$250, and the.amount re-~- ‘The: introduction: of Phar-"” = _ macare, delisted medications: ‘and removed’ physiotherapy, chiropractic and: podiatry... visits, which a affects, all. retir- “ees. inB. C. Pood > King said: when contiacts ts ; were -negotiated, public sec- ‘tor. wages: fell: behind their “Jprovincial ‘ counterparis “in | return for. medical, benefits ~ Transform your home today with the charm anid warmth of a omi sical operation. t e for pennies per day djustable e thermostat nsures omfort level : i Fireplaces Now On Sale! Discontinued nodels.. - Priced to go at and job security. “That was. - i mee kind of a thing you ‘accepted, - “return: on “the: balance | cof “that little bit of a lower wage — "tO “get those” benefits. It's - “Kind of a trade-off and: now a ; iv s gone,” she said, : _ "| Now staff who have een an : thinking of ‘early: retirement: “may”.have. second thoughts ° if they. can’t count on their ‘thedical : benefits, lieves. : © The association inects: to- . day: in Vancouver to plan its strategy | in the dispute. : Bring all yout cold in this years Pumpkin pumpkins will be: awarded. Entry fee $2.00/ pumpkin: - The Pumpkin, Fling - will take place at ‘the Rod & Gun Club of Rifle Range Road. The Terrace Skeeria Valley -Rotary Club challenges one and -allto design and build catapult | «for reompatiion purposes. © pumpkins for ¢ cmmuniton Fling’= Prizes for wining located at.the'end - - “SS _ Bring your special - - * pumpkin pie and enter’ for ‘Best Pie” prizel. 2 Slices will be sold for -§ $1.00 eaasa § fund ralser. "INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS are FREE for: © People 65 years and older =~ _ ¢ Adults and children: with a chronic illness ~ - @ Children aged 6 to 23 months. a " « Household:and regular child care: = contacts of children aged i] to 23 months Contact “she be Electric Stove ELS SU Promo Price TOTEM FURNITURE & APPLIANCES _ 4501. Lakelse Avenue Terrace | a 638-1158 * 1-800-813-1158 eee | ‘ DAY CLINICS . a October. 18 2 if you' Te in an at-risk category, you can get your re oe flu shot: at. a local drop-in clinic: - ae _ NORTH WEST. HEALTH UNIT in Auditorium) 9412 ‘Kalum Street PePPOTTTTTITITTITT Ti WF renting PIAS/ESRIA- FITS FOCUS “is ld neta soleointoek, oe oe evi wt winter just ‘around the come ~ Far a, limited time;: whet you purchase scot sie a eight asrciate wad oi Bring your Ford vehicle into any Ford Quality Care Service Center and you'll benefit from Ford factory-trained technicians using genuine Ford parts. At your local BC Ford Store we really, really know your Ford, fontia BUILT FOR LIFE IN BC p10 $750 pe purchase, kx a maximum of 4 fies, instalation, balancing fees anid copikat Tanase. Approx, value per prize: Tord Freese: $34,000; Hertz renal: $60; Limited Maintenance Pion: $170;,30,000 anther retafl piled: frat F425 to} $29.50, Ho purchase touiited. Cpenio residents of Canada who have reached the age of majaay, Pilzes offered may differ {rom theso Sustrated. Limf of one Scratch ‘a Win Card wih purchase pet pason pot by. Matherrutical saiblesing question manda- foiy, Drew: January B, 2005. End data: Noveriber 30. 2004 of unt supodics last, whichever comes first. Odus of winning an Instant! (ito Tia purchase: 2/608, Lintited Mainlenariod Pian; 1/005; Hertz femtal: 2/005. See flutes for edits of winning and detals of | = ger RSS al the Serica Dounter, al wren ford ca or call 1-866-470-1825, ext. 4. Ses yous paticinoting Gueitty Cate Dealer fur detals, Some conditions and addtional charges may aol Dealer may sell tor ss ins eee November 30, 20M.