Retired Honolulu firefighters and police officers have formed a coalition to protect them from changes that could reduce their health benefits. Retired cops and firefighters
unite to protect health benefitsStar-Bulletin staff
Two years ago, state lawmakers created the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to replace all the different state employee-union health plans.
State employees and retirees are scheduled to become beneficiaries of the trust fund later this year. The retirees are worried about what proposed changes to the new law, currently making their way through the Legislature, might do to their benefits.
"We're concerned that none of the bills grandfather in retirees' current level of health benefits," said Earl Arakaki, retired Honolulu police officer. Arakaki also is a business agent for the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, which is supporting the retirees' efforts.
The coalition formed a committee of retired Honolulu firefighters and police officers, and hopes to recruit neighbor-island retired police and firefighters and other state retirees.