LABOR

Judge rules Walmart strikes protected

A National Labor Relations Board judge has ruled that Walmart unlawfully disciplined workers who staged protests in 2013 and ordered the retailer to reinstate 16 former employees, as well as give them back pay.

Judge Geoffrey Carter ruled that the employee actions were protected under the National Labor Relations Act and that Walmart violated labor laws by “disciplining or discharging several associates because they were absent from work while on strike.”

The judge also ordered Walmart to hold a meeting in 29 stores throughout the country to inform employees of their right to strike, and to promise not to threaten or discipline employees for doing so.

The complaint was filed on behalf of the labor-backed group “Our Walmart,” which called it a huge victory.

The decision, posted on the labor board’s website late Thursday, arrived one day after the nation’s largest private employer announced raises for more than 1.2 million U.S. hourly workers, which is most of them. The retailer said in October that it would invest $2.7 billion in its workforce over two years.

In a statement, Walmart spokesman Kory Lundberg said that the retailer disagreed with the judge’s findings and that it will pursue all of its options to defend the company. It called its actions “legal and justified.”

— Associated Press

HEALTH CARE

Cigna suspended

from enrollments

Federal regulators have stopped Cigna from enrolling new Medicare customers until the health insurer deals with problems that have triggered care denials or delays and higher costs for some people.

The insurer, which is being acquired by the Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Anthem, has a “longstanding history” of not complying with requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, according to a letter the agency sent to Cigna this week.

“The nature of Cigna’s noncompliance provides sufficient basis for CMS to find the presence of a serious threat to enrollees’ health and safety,” the letter said.

Cigna said in a regulatory filing Friday that it is cooperating with federal officials and working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. It said the suspension doesn’t affect current customers.

Cigna sells Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of the government’s Medicare program, in several states. Coverage focuses on people over age 65 and the disabled. The insurer also offers prescription drug coverage known as Part D for Medicare enrollees.

CMS said Cigna has “substantially failed” to provide services and benefits in accordance with its requirements. It said customers seeking prescription drugs have been inappropriately denied coverage, had access to prescriptions delayed, never received the drugs or had to pay increased out-of-pocket costs.

— Associated Press

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— From news services