Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/524bv.pdf
Page Number: 607.0

524US2

Unit: $U94

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562

EASTERN ENTERPRISES v. APFEL

Breyer, J., dissenting

(2) The resulting 1946 “Krug-Lewis Agreement” created
a Medical and Hospital Fund designed to “provide, or to ar-
range for the availability of, medical, hospital, and related
services for the miners and their dependents.” Krug-Lewis
Agreement § 4(b), App. (CA1) 612–613. One year later, this
fund was consolidated with a “Welfare and Retirement
Fund” also established in 1946 (hereinafter W&R Fund).
1947 National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement (herein-
after NBCWA) 150, App. (CA1) 621. Under the 1947 and
successive agreements, the W&R Fund’s three trustees
(union, management, and “neutral”) determined the speciﬁc
beneﬁts provided under the plan.
1947 NBCWA 144, App.
(CA1) 618.

(3) Between 1947 and 1965, the beneﬁts that the W&R
Fund provided included retiree beneﬁts quite similar to
those at issue here. The bargaining agreements between
the coal operators and miners (NBCWA’s) and the W&R
Fund’s Annual Reports make clear that the W&R Fund pro-
vided beneﬁts to all “employees . . . , their families and de-
pendents for medical or hospital care.” 1947 NBCWA 146,
App. (CA1) 619; 1950 NBCWA 60–61, App. (CA1) 639 (contin-
uing coverage); 1951 NBCWA 50–51, App. (CA1) 648 (same);
1952 NBCWA 40–42, App.
(CA1) 650–651 (same); 1955
NBCWA 34–35, App. (CA1) 655 (same); 1956 NBCWA 28–29,
App. (CA1) 658 (same); 1958 NBCWA 16–17, App. (CA1) 661
(same); 1964 NBCWA 4–5, App. (CA1) 668–669 (same); 1966
NBCWA 4–5, App. (CA1) 688–689 (same). The Fund’s An-
nual Reports speciﬁed that eligible family members included
miners’ spouses, children, dependent parents, and (at least
after 1955) retired miners and their dependents, and widows
and orphans (for a 12-month period).
1955 W&R Fund An-
nual Report 15, 28, App. (CA1) 881, 894; 1956 W&R Fund
Annual Report 13–14, App. (CA1) 912–913 (also noting the
“unprecedented magnitude and liberality of the Fund’s Hos-
pital and Medical Care Program”); 1958 W&R Fund Annual
Report 7, App. (CA1) 943; 1959 W&R Fund Annual Report