Savela v. City of Duluth

OPINION

STRAS, Justice.

At issue in this case is the interpretation of approximately 60 collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) between the City of Duluth and its employees. Subject to certain conditions and exceptions, the CBAs guarantee retired City employees health insurance benefits “to the same extent as active employees.” The dispute centers on the meaning of that phrase — specifically whether the phrase guarantees health insurance benefits to retirees to the same extent as employees who were active at the time of a retiree’s departure, or to the same extent as current City employees.…