Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers Union, Local No. 59 v. Town of Chatham

Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers Union, Local No. 59 (Teamsters), is the certified collective bargaining agent for all regular full-time police officers on the Chatham police department, excluding the staff sergeant, lieutenant, and chief. The Teamsters offers its members a health and welfare plan which provides indemnity-type group health insurance benefits (Teamsters plan). This plan is considered a benefit of Teamsters union membership, and the police officers have asked Chatham to contribute to the plan and to allow them to participate in it.

*366Since April, 1985, Teamsters has…