For laid off St Albans Creamery workers, health insurance benefits run out next week. The union representing them is asking the courts to intervene

Updated 8:34 p.m.

Teamsters Local 597, which represents employees at St. Albans Creamery, filed a motion with the Vermont District Court on Tuesday, hoping to force their employer to continue making health insurance contributions while the dairy processing plant remains closed.

Without action from the court, the union’s insurance is set to expire at the end of the month. 

The dairy plant, which is owned and operated by co-op Dairy Farmers of America, shuttered on Aug. 17. The co-op described the plant as unviable, and labeled the closure a private-sector business decision. 

DFA covered 85% of their employees’ health insurance premiums, and nearly all the employees and many of their families are covered by the plan, according to the court filing.

This latest filing comes in a series of legal actions taken by the union, which alleges DFA illegally retaliated by closing the plant after the union went on strike late last year. The union secured a temporary restraining order to stop DFA from making irreversible changes to the plant, like selling it. The union argues that, because the parties haven’t gone through arbitration, the plant should remain in a condition that would allow it to reopen.

The court vacated the restraining order once DFA agreed it would not take any more steps to further close the plant and would expedite arbitration proceedings.

The union also says the employer is violating its commitment to expedite arbitration in the filing.

Both parties have not been able to agree on an arbitration date before early next year, which the union argues isn’t soon enough.

Tuesday’s filing describes seven employees, all of whom were laid off on Aug. 17 with the plant’s closure, who would not be able to afford health insurance for themselves or their families without the employer’s contributions. The filing said the employees would lose coverage at the end of the month.

In a statement, DFA pushed back on the union’s argument.

“The union’s latest filing is without merit, and the characterizations contained in the filing,

and relief requested, are inconsistent with the court’s prior ruling,” the statement said. “We will respond through the appropriate legal process.”

Nearly half of Vermonters are insured through their employers. Accessing health insurance through an employer tends to be more affordable. That’s because employers often cover the majority of health premium costs, according to KKF Health News.

“Many of our members and their families are dealing with serious medical issues, for which they will require extensive medication, treatment, and procedures in the coming weeks,” Teamsters attorney Jason Vazquez told VTDigger in an email. 

“Stripping their health insurance, particularly while the Union’s grievances related to the plant closure remain pending, would be stunningly cruel. It would cause many of our members immense pain, suffering, and hardship — and could result in catastrophe or tragedy,” he said.

The case is before Judge William K. Sessions III. Vazquez hopes the judge will set a hearing for next week. The union’s health insurance would expire on Wednesday.

Read the story on VTDigger here: For laid off St Albans Creamery workers, health insurance benefits run out next week. The union representing them is asking the courts to intervene.