Workers at the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) claim that they put up with being underpaid because of the promise of future security in the form of life insurance benefits. The union is now cutting life insurance polices from the promised $100,00-$250,000 to $5,000. The retirees feel very betrayed by what has happened and hope that this lawsuit will restore their original benefits. The union maintains that the cuts were necessary to cut its deficit, and that the life insurance benefit is unimportant due to the generous pension benefits offered.
See "Union Retirees Prepare Fight Over Cuts to Life Insurance", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, June 12, 2003