Greenbrier Hotel employees were notified Monday that they may be losing their health care coverage next week due to nonpayment- even though they have been paying for it out of their checks.
According to a letter sent by a firm representing the health care company, the Greenbrier, owned by Gov. Jim Justice and his family, is four months delinquent in its contributions to the Health Fund. The firm is Schulte, Roth and Zabel’s division based out of New York.
“[The Greenbrier Owes] approximately $2.4 million in delinquent contributions with an additional $1.2 million in contributions currently, or soon to be,” the letter from Schulte, Roth and Zabel said.
The letter was addressed to the hotel, multiple labor unions, and the company’s CFO – who is also Justice’s son in law.
It alleged that the Greenbrier has continued to deduct money from employee paychecks for health insurance, but that money hasn’t gone to the Health Fund. Now the health care company says if a payment is not made, it will stop providing coverage to all the Greenbrier’s employees.
“If payment is not timely made, the Health Fund will suspend health and welfare coverage to all of the Greenbrier’s covered employees,” the letter said.
Peter Bostic, Chairperson of the Greenbrier Council of Labor Unions, says unions are pursuing every legal option available to seek a resolution for the Greenbrier employees.
“Greenbrier delinquency has put our members’ healthcare benefits in severe jeopardy and is morally and legally wrong. Our members have met their obligation by working hard every day and paying their portion to the Greenbrier,” Bostic said in a statement.
The Greenbrier is scheduled to be sold on the Greenbrier County courthouse steps next week to settle a delinquent loan.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting reached out to the Greenbrier Hotel Corporation, The CFO and Treasurer Adam C. Long, and the Firm Schulte, Roth and Zabel about this story. None of those entities has responded.