To frequent readers, the recent commentaries have been in line with the title of this web site, “RockyFlatsFacts.com.” This may be the last of the commentaries about Rocky Flats until we hear more about changes to retiree benefits that the Department of Energy (DOE) is requiring. People who have what they think are “life-time benefits” from a contractor to a government agency should read what is happening to the people who worked at Rocky Flats and develop a “healthy cynicism.”

Several responses to the commentaries previously posted on the changes have been something to the effect, “This can’t be. I worked with dangerous materials. However, they promised me good health care benefits when I retired.” The first warning about the DOE’s willingness to renege on that promise was posted last week by a person who had their health care benefits removed by an administrative action even while they continued to be employed at Rocky Flats. DOE of course did not take the action directly to eliminate the “promised benefits.” They established a contract that required a contractor to take that action.

I received a letter from a reader dated December 1, 2000 addressed to “Retiree or Surviving Spouse.” It explained that DOE had directed Kaiser-Hill not to make any changes for salaried employees who retired before July 1, 1995 or their surviving spouses. The letter also included a memo from the DOE manager saying that there will be no changes and that “…post 1995 retiree benefits will be addressed in “…DOE forthcoming policy…” I am certain people are digging through their files to find information such as this as they contemplate how to protect their benefits.

I have personally experienced loss of benefits because of DOE imposition of requirements on a contractor. I accepted the early retirement program offered in 1992, and that included what I thought was the offer that medical benefits would continue to be provided free of cost. That was important because I was being treated for level 4 melanoma. I was hired by a company that was relieved I had health insurance. I would not have been insurable with them. My insurance paid most of the costs for the very expensive treatments, and I’ve been cancer-free for years.

A few years later my company won a “second tier” contract at Rocky Flats, and I was offered a position at Rocky Flats. The day before I began my job I was told I no longer qualified for my “no cost heath benefits because I was returning to work as a second tier contractor.” My company, to their credit, found me a “third tier contractor” offer that would have allowed me to keep my health insurance coverage. I had less than 24 hours to decide what I should do. I decided the best professional approach was to commit to the project as a second tier contractor employee and pay for the insurance. I later had the misfortune to meet a “high level person” who was able to have the same decision negated because of “connections.”

My history is not important except as another indication that DOE has been eager to reduce contractor employee benefits. My hope is that Rocky Flats retirees sign up for whatever is being offered to prevent losing all medical benefits. Most of us will not have the connections to avoid whatever is coming.