Union victory in health insurance fight

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Chalk one up for the union in a battle over the health insurance provider for Providence city workers.

Workers are suing the city to stop it from switching from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island to United Healthcare.

The switch was set to happen on New Year's Day. However, Superior Court Judge Mark Pfeiffer Monday issued a temporary restraining order, preventing Providence from implementing the change, according to Paul Doughty, the president of the Providence Firefighters Union.

Doughty called the judge's ruling a victory for the unions. Providence Mayor David Cicilline said it's the taxpayers who will pay the price.

"It is disappointing that the court's action enabled [the union's] strategy to undermine an open and competitive bidding process that will result in an $11 million savings for our taxpayers," Cicilline said. "Facing costs of $58,000 for every week of delay, the City will appeal the granting of the TRO to the Supreme Court immediately."

Cicilline said switching from Blue Cross to United with save millions of dollars, and that city workers will have the same coverage.

Union workers disagree. They claim they will not be able to see the same doctors.