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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 2, 2007 Click image for larger view From left, Kodak lead product engineer Ken Metz, process engineer Dave Kornstad and coating head operator Edie Williamson work at the company�s White City plant in this 2001 image. The transition to a new owner will leave some longtime workers without medical health coverage they had been counting on for retirement. (MT file photo) KODAK UNIT'S TRANSITION DERAILS SOME RETIREES' PLANS New rules negate medical benefits for many retirees By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune The pending transition from Kodak's medical imaging unit into newly formed Carestream Health has plenty of regulatory complexities for the management teams involved. At the rank-and-file level for Kodak's 8,100 medical imaging employees, about 400 of whom work in the company's White City plant, there is additional angst over benefit plans. The disappearance of benefits, as executives and an array of regulatory agencies work out details of Onex's $2.35 billion acquisition of the Kodak unit is a troublesome matter for veteran workers who were eyeing retirement during the next couple of years and may now have to postpone such plans as long as a decade. Mike Bartlett, a 54-year-old Westminster, S.C., field engineer who does technical support work in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and east Tennessee on the products made in the White City plant, wonders why Kodak can't live up to its past promises, as did 3M and Imation during previous transitions. The long-time employee has spent the past few weeks drawing attention to the matter. Advertisement "For people who have been with Kodak 35 years and they're 54," he said, "they're cut off and there's no bridge for them. Instead of retiring at 55, now they have to work until they're 65 because those medical benefits will not be in existence." Bartlett e-mailed Kodak employees to find out who shared his concern and got about 100 responses. He guesses more than 1,000 people are affected, many of whom are afraid to say something for fear of reprisal. "After I sent out the message I had several contacts with human resources," Bartlett said. "Even people in high management positions are getting the short end of the stick. Some were at the meetings where these things were discussed and were very concerned. But they can't talk without being exposed. "I would like to see Kodak negotiate with those people, but the human resource people said the company was not interested in any negotiated settlement." When Imation was formed as a spin-off company in 1996, employees who had been on the job for more than 10 years saw their defined cash contribution pension benefits grandfathered in. Then in 1999, Imation continued to pay into the pension program if workers remained with Kodak. Bartlett considers a lot of other changes as a hit for the rank-and-file. Workers with 10 years at Kodak would have medical benefits paid in retirement. That was later changed to "at cost" medical coverage. Now, according to documents circulated among employees, workers who are under 55 will lose the funding that was grandfathered in after the 3M and Imation years and the ability to buy medical coverage at cost. "We all understand they can change benefits at any time and they can terminate it," Bartlett said. "Benefits are part of a worker's salary. If they change, they run the risk of not being able to hire and keep good employees." No unions represent the Kodak health unit workers and Bartlett wonders if that might be an option. "So much power is given to companies these days," Bartlett said during a phone interview. "When you work for a company, you get the idea that benefits are part of the pay package, but it seems like every industry is following the airlines and automobile companies and using bankruptcy as a way to get out from paying their bills." Kodak spokesman David Lanzillo, speaking from Rochester, N.Y., said the company attempted to secure similar benefits for employees moving into Onex ownership. "Throughout the sales and negotiating process we worked hard so that transitioning employees were treated fairly," Lanzillo said. "The only thing I can tell you is that our primary focus on benefits packages was that they would generally be comparable to their current package." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or at [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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