October 29, 2008 Providence workers protest over health care change

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Hundreds of city workers have booed and picketed Providence Mayor David Cicilline over proposed changes to the city's health care plan.

The workers protested outside a downtown fundraiser Cicilline was attending Wednesday evening. At issue is a switch in their health care provider from Blue Cross and Blue Shield to United Healthcare. The change was announced earlier this month and would go into effect Jan. 1.

Union officials said members would no longer have access to the same specialists and providers. But Cicilline said he was puzzled by the protests and that the switch would save taxpayers millions of dollars without altering the amount of type of health coverage.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)