Judge Rules Union Pacific Should Have Provided Birth Control to Employees

Laramie, Wy – A judge in Nebraska has ruled that Union Pacific discriminated against women by not paying for their birth control. The rail company does pay for impotence drugs. A spokesperson for U-P says they will appeal this decision and noted the union representing its employees did not seek to include the cost of contraceptives in the health care package.
The executive director of the Wyoming Health Council, Lucy Williamson, says this decision sends a message that contraception coverage is a health care civil rights issue for some people. She says this could mean more states and companies will start offering contraceptives to its female employees.
The judge did not require Union Pacific to offer its employees contraceptives. Planne Parenthood says U-P employs about 1500 Wyoming women.