Maytag retirees rally at courthouse

John Jennings/Daily News Larry Shaver (left, white shirt), UAW chair of retirees, talks with former Maytag employees outside the Jasper County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon. The retirees rallied to talk with a representative of Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who had planned a “listening post” in Newton to hear residents’ complaints and concerns.

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The news that Whirlpool has filed a lawsuit to bring Maytag retirees’ health insurance in line with Whirlpool workers’ has the former Maytag folks very upset. So, when they found out that a representative of senators Chuck Grassley (R) and Tom Harkin (D) were planning “listening posts” in Newton, they sprang into action. Approximately 75 former Maytag employees gathered at the Jasper County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon in hopes of having their grievances heard by Senator Grassley’s representatives. Although Whirlpool has not released details of its plans, most of the retirees say the changes probably won’t be favorable. “I started at Plant 1 in 1947, and transferred to Plant 2 in 1949,” said William Mikesell, who came to the rally Wednesday. “What do they want to do? Take my hospitalization coverage and my drug card away from me?” “We won this once, and why they’re pulling us through this again, I don’t know,” said Larry Shaver, the UAW chair for retirees. “After age 65, they put us all on a drug policy that (Iowa Senator) Grassley initiated. There’s a big donut hole in it that will kill us all.” Aaron McKay, Sen. Grassley’s regional director, said the problem was not just a Newton issue. “I can’t speak for Senator Grassley, but he knows how important this is, and he will respond,” McKay said. Several retirees admitted that their benefits were very good, but that those benefits were earned and were promised to them. Max Tipton, who served as chief negotiator for UAW at Maytag for many years, told McKay he felt this was bound to be detrimental to the Maytag retirees. “If Whirlpool’s insurance was better, they wouldn’t want to be doing this,” Tipton said. “It’s time for Senators Harkin and Grassley to step up and do the right thing.” Whirlpool has said any changes to retirees’ health benefits would take place after January 1, 2009. The company has not revealed details of its plan for the Maytag retirees. A rally similar to Wednesday’s was being planned for Thursday morning at the Newton Public Library, where a representative of Sen. Harkin is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jennings@newtondailynews.com.