Democratic lawmakers advocate for safeguarding health care and retirement benefits of Steward Health Care employees
- Democratic members of Congress are pushing for protections of health care and retirement benefits for Steward Health Care workers.
- The lawmakers aim to ensure that employees at hospitals owned by Steward Health Care will have their benefits secure.
- This legislative move highlights the importance of safeguarding workers' rights in the healthcare sector.
A group of Democratic members of Congress, led by Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, is seeking reassurances that workers at hospitals owned by Steward Health Care will have their health care and retirement benefits protected. Steward last month said it plans to sell off all its hospitals after announcing that it filed for bankruptcy protection. In a letter to acting Labor Secretary Julie Su on Monday, Markey expressed concerns for the nearly 30,000 workers, including nearly 10,000 in Massachusetts, who rely on Steward Health Care for their paychecks, health care plans, and retirement benefits. Markey emphasized the need for the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure that Steward workers and retirees receive the benefits they are entitled to. The company's bankruptcy has caused financial uncertainty and anxiety for many workers, with delayed paychecks in Massachusetts following the filing. Markey stressed the importance of protecting workers, patients, and communities in resolving this crisis, calling for collaboration among federal, state, and local authorities. The letter was also signed by other Democratic senators and representatives, highlighting the widespread impact of Steward's financial troubles on workers across multiple states.