Kodak withdraws plan to end health benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees

In the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, Kodak withdrew a motion to end these health benefits and will instead create a reitrees commitee to examine issues of medical and survivor benefits. Meanwhile, AT&T contract negotiations continue -- with health care premiums and copayments among the issues in play.

The Associated Press: Kodak Proposes Bonuses, Withdraws Benefits Cut
Eastman Kodak Co. is seeking permission to pay about 300 executives and other employees a total of $13.5 million in bonuses to persuade them to stay with the company as it reorganizes under bankruptcy protection. ... Also this week, Kodak told retirees it has withdrawn for now its motion to end supplemental health care benefits for about 16,000 Medicare-eligible retirees. The company will instead create a retirees committee to examine the issues of medical and survivor benefits (Thompson, 4/6).

The Associated Press: Contracts Expire For Many At AT&T; Talks Continue
About 40,000 AT&T landline workers are staying on the job this week without a contract, their union said Sunday... At issue in the negotiations are job protection clauses and health care premiums and co-payments. AT&T says it wants employees to shoulder more of their growing health care costs and more leeway to downsize its shrinking landline operations (4/8).