Boston Files Suit Questioning Legality of Union Insurance
The City of Boston has filed a lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court challenging the legality of the city’s contribution to a teachers-union health plan.
Lance Pomerantz, special assistant corporation counsel for Boston, said the city has asked the court to decide whether the city’s funding of the Boston Teachers Union Health and Welfare Funds should be discontinued.
He has also asked the court to determine whether the money paid by the city treasurer into the funds should be returned to the city.
The city is arguing that state law prohibits health-benefit plans such as the one sponsored by the union, Mr. Pomerantz said.
He added that the teachers’ benefits under the union plan exceed the benefits of other municipal employees and that city funds should not be used to support it. More than 90 percent of the money for the funds comes from the city, according to Mr. Pomerantz.
He said the city is also claiming that it is entitled to all interest from money reinvested by trustees of the health fund.
The health plan was approved several years ago, according to Mr. Pomerantz, by the Boston School Committee as part of the teachers’ contract negotiations with the city.
75,000 Children Participate in Big Apple Games
More than 75,000 children in New York City took part in this year’s Big Apple Games, a summer-long program of instruction and competition in all major sports that is underwritten by the Mobil Oil Corporation.
Youngsters from the 5th through 12th grades took part in the programs in baseball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, swimming, fencing, and weight training.
The Games lasted from late June until early this month.
The program--which was supervised by 190 teachers and 350 recreation assistants paid through the Mobil grant to the city’s board of education--took place at about 100 fields, tennis courts, and swimming pools throughout New York.
Among the current or former professional athletes who taught at clinics were Cal Ramsey, Tom Seaver, Wilt Chamberlain, Hershel Walker, Earl Monroe, and Althea Gibson.
Mobil spent $400,000 for the instructional activities and competition this year, a spokesman for the company said.
The spokesman said the program, started last year, probably would have Mobil’s financial backing again next year.
