As we understood it, some time ago the city indicated the reason they were dropping this benefit is that they thought they were violating a state law by offering the insurance coverage to medically retired employees, but apparently the federal magistrate saw it differently.

When you're on a fixed retirement income, having to suddenly to pay for insurance takes a chunk.

It's a contract whether written or verbal - and the city was responsible for what it agreed to do - to provide medical insurance for retirees until age 65.

One of the primary purposes of the collective bargaining agreement was to provide for the medical needs of an employee after retirement.