Tobacco Documents Online

Woodson, Walter From: Sent: To: Subject: Giamberardino, Marco [i'OBACCO/Tlff,'IGIAMBER] Tuesday, March 17, 1998 9:50 AM Walter Woodson (MSMAIL) Unions Impod:ance: High Tuesday March 17, 9:03 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Coalition for Workers'Health Care Funds Union Health Funds Laud Attorney General Udail's Stand Opposing Lawsuit Immunity For Big Tobacco WASHINGTON, March 17/PRNewswire/-- The Coalition for Workers' Health Care Funds, representing more than 2,500 union sponsored health funds nationwide, today applauded the stand taken by New Mexico Attorney General Tom Udall in opposing efforts by the tobacco industry to achieve immunity from lawsuits. Udall recently sent a letter to U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) urging that Congress hold fast against attempts by Big Tobacco to include lawsuit immunity language in tobacco control legislation now being considered on Capitol Hill. Sen. Conrad is the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 1638, the Healthy Kids Act, a recently introduced tobacco control bill that preserves people's right to sue the tobacco industry for harm suffered as a result of smoking. Said General Udall in his letter: "'I do not believe that the tobacco industry, given the manner in which it has conducted business, is deserving of any form of immunity." In addition to Udall, the letter was signed by the attorneys general of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Brian McQuade, Executive Director of the Coalition, in a letter to General Udall thanking him on behalf of the funds for his courageous stance in the controversial immunity issue said: "'You're courage in standing up to the awesome power and influence of the tobacco industry has earned the respect and admiration of workers everywhere as they battle this giant industry to retain the basic right to sue that has always been accorded Americans everywhere." The union sponsored health care funds represent more than 33 million Americans, mostly blue-collar workers. Funds in 32 states, including New Mexico, have filed class action lawsuits against the tobacco industry seeking recoupment of monies paid out for tobacco-related diseases. The funds also seek punitive damages to pay for smoking cessation and prevention programs for participants and their families. The union funds spend more than $3,3 billion each year to pay for smoking-related claims. TI31770101

Their suits charge that the tobacco industry has, over the years, intentionally targeted blue-collar workers just as they targeted children and minorities. United States Public Health Service statistics show that blue-collar xvorkers smoke at more than double the national average and at a rate four limes that of white-collar professionals. Fully 40% of their children are smokers by the time they reach age 18. The mortality tables amply reflect these statistics. Because the funds are collectively bargained, each dollar spent treating tobacco-related diseases is a dollar that would otherwise have gone into a workers' paycheck or benefits package. The original agreement between the attorneys general and the tobacco industry would have permitted the state employee health care funds to recoup money spent treating tobacco-related diseases but forbidden the union funds from seeking the same relief. The fund trustees consider this proposal to be unfair and unjust and have lobbied Congress to prevent it from becoming law. Plaintiff funds in the New Mexico suit are: New Mexico and West Texas Multicraft Health & Welfare Trust Fund; Operating Engineers Local No. 953 Health & Welfare Trust Fund; New Mexico Dislriet Council of Carpenters Health & Welfare Trust Fund; Sheet Metal Local No. 49 Health & Welfare Trust Fund and New Mexico Pipe Trades Health & Weffare Trust Fund. SOURCE: Coalition for Workers'Health Care Funds T1317701 O2