Retiree medicare medical plan?

[29palms]

Hello gentlemen. I am one of those CO guys on the brink of a UAL merger. I am down in Texas. Was curious to know about your retiree medicare medical plan. I was reading this on a web page earlier. Interestingly, we at CO don't have such a plan which I am aware of. They allow us to "BRIDGE" our unused sick time upon retirement to fund for medical until we are able to qualify for MEDICARE.
So I was just curious if this plan you have with United is still around, and what do most of you think about it, and do you think this will continue after the merger is complete?
I am also aware that your pension is in the care of the PBGC. We still have a defined pension plan at CO but we all feel like its going to stop or maybe they will start something fresh for all. Who knows?

 

[Harvey]

Hello gentlemen. I am one of those CO guys on the brink of a UAL merger. I am down in Texas. Was curious to know about your retiree medicare medical plan. I was reading this on a web page earlier. Interestingly, we at CO don't have such a plan which I am aware of. They allow us to "BRIDGE" our unused sick time upon retirement to fund for medical until we are able to qualify for MEDICARE.
So I was just curious if this plan you have with United is still around, and what do most of you think about it, and do you think this will continue after the merger is complete?
I am also aware that your pension is in the care of the PBGC. We still have a defined pension plan at CO but we all feel like its going to stop or maybe they will start something fresh for all. Who knows?

 

[Harvey]

Guess the Teamsters don't tell you anything. We are getting your contract they didn't negociate anything. Just replaced our languge for yours we had good medical retiree medical etc. Now if this is voting in we won't have it. Your pension will freeze we will all get some kind of a 401k. nothing more. As far as our pension being paid by the PBGC it was frozen and we lost 2/3rds of it we aren't getting much.
We all need to get to gether and dump the Teamsters..

 

[29palms]

Guess the Teamsters don't tell you anything. We are getting your contract they didn't negociate anything. Just replaced our languge for yours we had good medical retiree medical etc. Now if this is voting in we won't have it. Your pension will freeze we will all get some kind of a 401k. nothing more. As far as our pension being paid by the PBGC it was frozen and we lost 2/3rds of it we aren't getting much.
We all need to get to gether and dump the Teamsters..

You're right about that. The airlines now has to prove that its in DISTRESS in order for the PBGC to take over as yours did during your bankruptcy. A merger won't cut it. The rules have changed since. It's much harder now. Thinking more like if the company freezes pension, will probably throw it into a trust or into our 401k. So you're saying that its ABSOLUTELY for sure that you will lose your medical retiree program, as we lose our pensions? I suppose the proof is in the pudding as to why companies merge. To slowly cut away on benefits. Maybe that's what they call "SURVIVAL". Something has to give. Notice the ceo's make out? All the time.

 

[whoop whoop]

You're right about that. The airlines now has to prove that its in DISTRESS in order for the PBGC to take over as yours did during your bankruptcy. A merger won't cut it. The rules have changed since. It's much harder now. Thinking more like if the company freezes pension, will probably throw it into a trust or into our 401k. So you're saying that its ABSOLUTELY for sure that you will lose your medical retiree program, as we lose our pensions? I suppose the proof is in the pudding as to why companies merge. To slowly cut away on benefits. Maybe that's what they call "SURVIVAL". Something has to give. Notice the ceo's make out? All the time.

Hi 29Palms,
You can check out www.the-ualmechanics.com and hopefully help out with the replacement of the ibt. They are doing nothing for the new UAL A&P's but driving us down to the LOWEST common denominator instead of advancing us.

 

[xUT]

Hello gentlemen. I am one of those CO guys on the brink of a UAL merger. I am down in Texas. Was curious to know about your retiree medicare medical plan. I was reading this on a web page earlier. Interestingly, we at CO don't have such a plan which I am aware of. They allow us to "BRIDGE" our unused sick time upon retirement to fund for medical until we are able to qualify for MEDICARE.
So I was just curious if this plan you have with United is still around, and what do most of you think about it, and do you think this will continue after the merger is complete?
I am also aware that your pension is in the care of the PBGC. We still have a defined pension plan at CO but we all feel like its going to stop or maybe they will start something fresh for all. Who knows?

Hi 29palms,
I am retired UAL.
Retiree medical is not in any contract but covered in Series 15 (which has been changed and not accessible to retirees, that I can find). Series 15 is a dynamic document that can be changed by the company 'at will' so i would not count on what 'we have' -vs- what you have. As you know, UAL & CAL retiree boarding procedures have been changed (which is [WAS?] defined in Series 15). IMHO, UAL took a big hit on this issue.

IMHO, for CAL retirees, if you are already retired, then you will be grand fathered in (More Than Likely...wink wink).

For UAL Employees, I see our 'medi-gap' benefit following CAL (as it is cheaper for them but throws UAL retirees under the bus, AGAIN!)

Going forward, I see CAL DB plan being frozen and replaced with a similar UAL 401K plan.

For employees hired after 2005, no retirement medical.
Sucks doesn't it?

Best of luck to you and yours.
Best Regards,
xUAL_TECH

 

[Bob Owens]

You're right about that. The airlines now has to prove that its in DISTRESS in order for the PBGC to take over as yours did during your bankruptcy. A merger won't cut it. The rules have changed since. It's much harder now. Thinking more like if the company freezes pension, will probably throw it into a trust or into our 401k. So you're saying that its ABSOLUTELY for sure that you will lose your medical retiree program, as we lose our pensions? I suppose the proof is in the pudding as to why companies merge. To slowly cut away on benefits. Maybe that's what they call "SURVIVAL". Something has to give. Notice the ceo's make out? All the time.

Wish you guys at CO had voted "No" on your TA as we did over at AA, but its done. I think you guys will end up having your pension frozen and be in the 401K like UAL. They dont have to dump it on the PBGC to do that, simply have it ratified in your combined contract. The likelyhood of any other outcome is small (except being sucked into a Union sponsored plan). The UAL guys outnumber you guys, they dont have a DB pension so they sure as hell arent going to fight to save yours. Losing the retiree medical isnt really all that critical when you consider the fact that since you agreed to work for so little the likelyhood of being able to retire at all, let alone early, has been greatly diminished.

Hopefully UAL Mechs will send the IBT back to the table and not accept this TA. Tell them to get it right this time, make it look more like UPS' contract instead of a mirror image of CO. It would be foolish to think that the combined agreement will be much better than whats in the TAs.

 

[29palms]

i don't know how two airlines can operate the nonrev travel so differently with two different ideologies on who travels before who? Sorry to say but I like our system where ACTIVE goes before retirees. I understand the UAL retirees being angry about the ruling, however, I cannot agree with their pass travel system. An active employee must get back to home base from wherever he flies from to get back to work on airplanes so that retirees can fly on. I wouldn't want to compete with retirees, or standby family teenagers travelliing unacompanied to CANCUN to get a sunburn on their butts, while I had to get back to my career. Why should a retiree, with more flexibility and no career to go to, fly before an active employee whom is more critical for keeping the airplanes running? Besides that, he's not active anymore. It's like, if you ride the ship but not part of the crew that is working, FEED THE WORKERS FIRST.
The retiree has priveledges for flying. That is the benefit. Not priority. But I understand if you had it the other way before, and suddenly it goes away, I'd be pissed too. But this was a merger afterall and CO employees had a say so in the matter too. This is just the beginning. In the end, we will all give and take something I am sure. I know this will piss alot of UAL people off but nobody at CO and I mean nobody voted for retirees to go ahead of active employees. I'll even take it a step further. For non-reving, I would put mechanics ahead of rampers, flight attendants, and anyone else aside the pilots. Who would you rather have on the airplane if the you know what hit the fan? A tool room clerk or a mechanic?

 

[tech2101]

i don't know how two airlines can operate the nonrev travel so differently with two different ideologies on who travels before who? Sorry to say but I like our system where ACTIVE goes before retirees. I understand the UAL retirees being angry about the ruling, however, I cannot agree with their pass travel system. An active employee must get back to home base from wherever he flies from to get back to work on airplanes so that retirees can fly on. I wouldn't want to compete with retirees, or standby family teenagers travelliing unacompanied to CANCUN to get a sunburn on their butts, while I had to get back to my career. Why should a retiree, with more flexibility and no career to go to, fly before an active employee whom is more critical for keeping the airplanes running? Besides that, he's not active anymore. It's like, if you ride the ship but not part of the crew that is working, FEED THE WORKERS FIRST.
The retiree has priveledges for flying. That is the benefit. Not priority. But I understand if you had it the other way before, and suddenly it goes away, I'd be pissed too. But this was a merger afterall and CO employees had a say so in the matter too. This is just the beginning. In the end, we will all give and take something I am sure. I know this will piss alot of UAL people off but nobody at CO and I mean nobody voted for retirees to go ahead of active employees. I'll even take it a step further. For non-reving, I would put mechanics ahead of rampers, flight attendants, and anyone else aside the pilots. Who would you rather have on the airplane if the you know what hit the fan? A tool room clerk or a mechanic?

It sounds like you have your best interests at heart. Screw the rest.

Do you have any friends left?

 

[lasttoboard]

i don't know how two airlines can operate the nonrev travel so differently with two different ideologies on who travels before who? Sorry to say but I like our system where ACTIVE goes before retirees. I understand the UAL retirees being angry about the ruling, however, I cannot agree with their pass travel system. An active employee must get back to home base from wherever he flies from to get back to work on airplanes so that retirees can fly on. I wouldn't want to compete with retirees, or standby family teenagers travelliing unacompanied to CANCUN to get a sunburn on their butts, while I had to get back to my career. Why should a retiree, with more flexibility and no career to go to, fly before an active employee whom is more critical for keeping the airplanes running? Besides that, he's not active anymore. It's like, if you ride the ship but not part of the crew that is working, FEED THE WORKERS FIRST.
The retiree has priveledges for flying. That is the benefit. Not priority. But I understand if you had it the other way before, and suddenly it goes away, I'd be pissed too. But this was a merger afterall and CO employees had a say so in the matter too. This is just the beginning. In the end, we will all give and take something I am sure. I know this will piss alot of UAL people off but nobody at CO and I mean nobody voted for retirees to go ahead of active employees. I'll even take it a step further. For non-reving, I would put mechanics ahead of rampers, flight attendants, and anyone else aside the pilots. Who would you rather have on the airplane if the you know what hit the fan? A tool room clerk or a mechanic?

Man, you are a real piece of work!

 

[29palms]

Man, you are a real piece of work!

(To the last two posters)

Sorry you feel this way. It seems like everyones best interest is themselves in this business. Its the American way pal. Tell you what friend. Did you serve time in the military? Did you put your butt in harms way? EVER? Did you boil water to keep from getting sick in foreign countries because there was no running water? Don't tell me about greedy self interested people when you probably have one by looking in the mirror.

 

[lasttoboard]

(To the last two posters)

Sorry you feel this way. It seems like everyones best interest is themselves in this business. Its the American way pal. Tell you what friend. Did you serve time in the military? Did you put your butt in harms way? EVER? Did you boil water to keep from getting sick in foreign countries because there was no running water? Don't tell me about greedy self interested people when you probably have one by looking in the mirror.

I hate to burst you're bubble, but I have done all those things you alluded to and more on some fronts. It's obvious to anyone that you didn't glean much about how to treat your fellow man from your experiences! Thankful for the people that had my back in Vietnam... No doubt a bit before your time PAL!

 

[29palms]

You're my frikin hero! Now, get to work and do something nice for UAL.

 

[xUT]

Hello gentlemen. I am one of those CO guys on the brink of a UAL merger. I am down in Texas. Was curious to know about your retiree medicare medical plan. I was reading this on a web page earlier. Interestingly, we at CO don't have such a plan which I am aware of. They allow us to "BRIDGE" our unused sick time upon retirement to fund for medical until we are able to qualify for MEDICARE.
So I was just curious if this plan you have with United is still around, and what do most of you think about it, and do you think this will continue after the merger is complete?
I am also aware that your pension is in the care of the PBGC. We still have a defined pension plan at CO but we all feel like its going to stop or maybe they will start something fresh for all. Who knows?

First good post, people responded in an insightful and respectful manner.

i don't know how two airlines can operate the nonrev travel so differently with two different ideologies on who travels before who? Sorry to say but I like our system where ACTIVE goes before retirees. I understand the UAL retirees being angry about the ruling, however, I cannot agree with their pass travel system. An active employee must get back to home base from wherever he flies from to get back to work on airplanes so that retirees can fly on. I wouldn't want to compete with retirees, or standby family teenagers travelliing unacompanied to CANCUN to get a sunburn on their butts, while I had to get back to my career. Why should a retiree, with more flexibility and no career to go to, fly before an active employee whom is more critical for keeping the airplanes running? Besides that, he's not active anymore. It's like, if you ride the ship but not part of the crew that is working, FEED THE WORKERS FIRST.
The retiree has priveledges for flying. That is the benefit. Not priority. But I understand if you had it the other way before, and suddenly it goes away, I'd be pissed too. But this was a merger afterall and CO employees had a say so in the matter too. This is just the beginning. In the end, we will all give and take something I am sure.

Your OP discussed medical, then you went off on a 'rant' on retiree travel. You know, there is 'another' thread on the subject, but I can tell your just too thick headed to post there. You know, etiquette and mutual respect. Something you are clearly lacking.

I know this will piss alot of UAL people off but nobody at CO and I mean nobody voted for retirees to go ahead of active employees. I'll even take it a step further. For non-reving, I would put mechanics ahead of rampers, flight attendants, and anyone else aside the pilots. Who would you rather have on the airplane if the you know what hit the fan? A tool room clerk or a mechanic?

Ah... elitism, tell me oh great one, what could you you during an in-flight event to fix 'anything' the pilot can't while your sitting in coach sucking a bourbon and coke with no tools? Stumble up and reset circuit breakers? Reprogram the FMGC, or hand start a PW4000?

Best you could do is suck up the blue juice to keep the toilet from overflowing.

In a 'major' event, we are all passengers, just like the pilots... 😱

(To the last two posters)

Sorry you feel this way. It seems like everyones best interest is themselves in this business. Its the American way pal. Tell you what friend. Did you serve time in the military? Did you put your butt in harms way? EVER? Did you boil water to keep from getting sick in foreign countries because there was no running water? Don't tell me about greedy self interested people when you probably have one by looking in the mirror.

WOW, serving in the military doesn't give you license to be a self centered, egotistical maniac. Maybe you PTSD is kicking in and your out of meds. You do know that serving for the country is a 'self sacrifice' or did you not read the fine print? 😛

You're my frikin hero! Now, get to work and do something nice for UAL.

Go kiss your managers a$$ and vote 'again' to take concessions.

B) xUT

 

[UALIADCS]

29palms -- Just an FYI, NOT everyone at CO voted the way you say......... it's not a good idea to use "everyone" unless you can prove it, and in this case, you can't. There are written proven statements from CO employees, both active and retired who disapprove of this.