You''ll be able to view
the entire package soon on the website. It will be in
Tuesdays mail with the ballot that will be counted
January 10.
Pension benefits were not affected. That''s not to say
the PPGC still will not terminate the plan on it''s own
but the company won''t be asking them to do so. In that
event benefits earned to date will be guarenteed by
the PPGC. There is a cap on those benefits and you can
find a chart in the back of the last T/A that was
voted in.
Medical premiums are rising again. There will be an
open enrollment in the first quarter of next year for
anyone desiring to change their option. As an example
option 3 (best) will now have premiums of $52. for
single, $103. for emp. and spouse, $98. for emp. and
child and $170. for family. These premiums cap in 2008
at $96., $191., $182. and $316. Drugs are $10, $20.
and $35. Mail order drugs are $20., $40 and $70. for
three years then everything increases $5-$15. While
this may appear steep to some of you it is still a
really good deal compared to what others have to pay
or if we go out of business and have to find our own
insurance.
No doubt about it the reserves are hardest hit. No
more passing and they will be called in a time
balancing order. That means if I have 20:00 and you
have none, you''ll get the next trip even if I''m also
available and senior to you. That will be a little
better for reserves who choose a high option.
We''ll all lose SAP and secondary lines. This will be
replaced with preferential bidding no later than June
2004. That means that we will no longer bid lines, we
will bid trips. We will build our own line based on
the hours we need. For instance you have vaction
paying 50:00 and you''re on the 105:00. You will build
your own block with around 50:00. That way there is no
need to drop trips.
Using sick becomes more complicated. If you''re a
reserve you will probably never be able to claim sick
unless you''re out the whole month. Blockholders can
claim sick but with a 5:00 penalty to their block
value if they''re sick less than 1/2 of their month.
For example. I''m on the 105:00. I build my block to
102:00. I call in sick for one trip. In this example I
could claim sick in the amount that would bring me to
97:00. Another example. I''m on the 105:00 but I build
my block only to 80:00 because I plan on utilizing the
bid sheet. (yes we still have the bid sheet). In this
case if I call in sick for one or two trips I can only
claim up to my guarentee which is 71:00. If I happen
to have already flown 71:00 there would be no sick
claim. If I flew 70:00 so far I still could only claim
1 hour.
The duty rig changes are what the pilots agreed to and
I''m sure you''ve already heard what they are. They
begin in March of next year.
If anyone desires to work at MidAtlantic you can but
you will remain there until there''s an opening at
mainline. Pay rates are that of American Eagle''s
current contract and based on your years at mainline.
Vacation and other benefits will be that of a new
hire. Still no start up date.
We did get stuck with the war contingency and it
sucks. Basically if anything bad happens it''s an
immediante 5% pay deferral for up to 18 months. They
will then begin paying us back in the 19th month.
There''s also a 2% lump sum bonus paid in 2007 and
2008. It will be based on the previous years W-2 so
you have to still be here to get it. That translates
into $800. for someone who earned $40,000.
Those are the highlights. Feel free to distribute. The
packet and ballot are being mailed on Tuesday. Votes
will be counted January 10. Please vote.