Attorney James Hykel Wins Restoration of Birthday Benefit for Southcoast Employees Represented by 1199SEIU

An employer who stops a long-established benefit for employees violates a collective bargaining agreement, even if there is no specific language violated. That's why a neutral arbitrator ruled that Southcoast Hospital Group violated its contract with 1199SEIU United Health Care Workers East when it stopping giving meal vouchers to employees on their birthdays.

The contract here contained no specific clause about birthday meal vouchers. Yet, the Employer had provided one consistently for 18 years. The Arbitrator agreed that longstanding meal voucher was an accepted part of compensation for employees. He ordered the Employer to restore the vouchers and make employees whole.