Union: Employees blocked from retirement system

As many as 300 new Baltimore County school system employees are accusing county administrators of intentionally stalling the workers? enrollment in the government?s retirement system through forced repeated medical exams.

Some employees have been waiting nearly a year to enroll in the county pension system while undergoing up to four physicals, said Lora Williams, president of a union representing 2,300 school support employees. The union plans to file a grievance with the county?s Board of Education alleging county Administrative Officer Fred Homan ? who also oversees the county?s retirement trust ? is ordering the medical exams to cut costs.