TWU Health Insurance?

[odie01]

With the company losing money, and October enrollment for insurance benefits around the cornor, why does the twu pay more for insurance? And what constitutes what is covered and who approves it?

 

[eolesen]

Go to Jetnet and download the plan summaries. They are separate plans, and may still have separate exclusions. My wife used to be in charge of publishing the differences between MAS, TWU, APFA, and APA.

Want equality? Propose only one plan for AMR's unions with the same caps and copays.

 

[chris perry]

Because your considered lower class scum, and they can get away with it....

 

[chris perry]

This is a prime example of what's wrong with this company,some more shared sacrifice......

 

[Mach85ER]

Do we supplement the pilots and FA's?

No

WHY?

Because you voted for the current contract. If you are a licensed mechanic, talk to the rest of your TWU membership about what has held you back despite your education, skills and experience.

 

[WorldTraveler]

I'd like to see the member costs for some of the plans between the 3 workgroups but I seriously doubt that anyone is subsidizing anyone else's coverage... rather that TWU members are paying much closer to market rates than other groups are which is a reflection of how much better other groups have been in holding back the increases.
Health care is enormously expensive in the US and is a far bigger factor in determining overall compensation costs among airlines than many people realize. Add in the differences in seniority between airlines and it is very easy to see how AA's employee related costs can be alot higher than other airlines with even fairly minor productivity differences.
Others from other airlines can pipe in w/ what they pay but it isn't uncommon in the private sector for families to pay more than $500/month for insurance that is part of a group/company plan and pushing $1000 or more if they have to pay for much of their coverage themselves (w/o employer subsidy)... and that still might not be an HMO or other minimal deductible type plan.

 

[Birdman]

Want equality? Propose only one plan for AMR's unions with the same caps and copays.

I don't recall seeing any proposal from compAAny or union that would accomplish equality. I'm sure in the past there was more parity among the groups but it has gotten out of control. I expect my premiums to again go up 10-15% next year.

 

[Bob Owens]

Do we supplement the pilots and FA's?

No

The fact is we do. Its no reflection on you guys nor am I saying we should resent the fact that your union did a pretty good job getting you through the Concessions of 2003. How it works is our rates are set by the total of what the company pays out for Medical. You guys have a cap, so all those extra costs that the company lays out because of your cap gets lumped into what we must pay. My medical has increased nearly 600% since 2003. That is much more than inflation, even inflation for Medical. It comes out to more than another $1/hr cut in pay. An additional 3% addeded to the concessions.

 

[Bob Owens]

Others from other airlines can pipe in w/ what they pay but it isn't uncommon in the private sector for families to pay more than $500/month for insurance ....

The question is are we really private sector workers? If so then we should be allowed to strike like private sector workers. Instead we are held to restrictions that are very similar to government workers who have far superior benifits and job security. Workers in the Rail Industry typically are covered under the Railroad Retirement act and get better benefits so they get something in return for these restrictions. As the government, through the NMB, continues to increasingly employ practices that were common in the Rail industry into the Airline Industry, namely endless delays in negotiations, its clear that the only options available to airline workers are Wildcat Strikes or leaving the Industry.

I guess when you factor in the amount of revenue that the Airline Industry generates for the government we could really consider the Government to be our employer.

It seems that the government and the industry want it both ways. They want the restrictions that government employers enjoy and be able to exploit market forces as freely as corporations in the private sector.

 

[WorldTraveler]

Yes, you are right... the government and lawmakers have never let go of the airline industry - they continue to see it as a regulated industry which they can riddle with taxes and regulations....
.
that said, teh airline industry and the railroads are both private sector and benefits have to reflect that.
.
Bob,
what is the average monthly healthcare "tab" for an AA TWU-represented employee w/ a family? ie monthly premium plus out of pocket expenses/deductibles? and if you know for APA and APFA employees?

 

[eolesen]

So lobby to be taken out of the RLA, Bob.

If the unions got together and demanded it, I don't know that the airlines would have much reason to block that, especially since there are benefits for both sides for leaving it. You would benefit from no longer being held hostage by the NMB, and the airline would benefit from Right To Work.

Win-win.

Those who distrust management could still belong to a union, and those who don't wouldn't have to pretend anymore by paying union dues for nothing in return.

 

[Bob Owens]

So lobby to be taken out of the RLA, Bob.

If the unions got together and demanded it, I don't know that the airlines would have much reason to block that, especially since there are benefits for both sides for leaving it. You would benefit from no longer being held hostage by the NMB, and the airline would benefit from Right To Work.

Win-win.

Those who distrust management could still belong to a union, and those who don't wouldn't have to pretend anymore by paying union dues for nothing in return.

Not all states are RTW. I believe the APA doesn't have a union security clause in their agreement.

 

[eolesen]

Not all states are RTW. I believe the APA doesn't have a union security clause in their agreement.

You are correct -- they do not have language which requires them to be the exclusive bargaining agent, probably because they still had the FEIA still on the property representing the three-stripers up until 2001, but there is enough other language to effectively achieve the same end result:

"All flying performed by or on behalf of the Company or an Affiliate shall be performed by pilots on the American Airlines Pilots Seniority List in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement"

A. Requirements

Each pilot of the Company covered by this Agreement will be required, as a condition of employment, beginning sixty (60) days after the effective date of this Agreement, or sixty (60) days after the completion of his or her probationary period, whichever will last occur, to either (1) be, or become a member of the Association, or (2) to pay to the Association a monthly service charge for the administration of this Agreement and representation of the pilot. Such monthly service charge will be an amount allowed by law.

B. Exceptions

This Section will not apply to any employee covered by this Agreement to whom membership in the Association is not available upon the same terms and conditions as are generally applicable to any other member, or to any pilot to whom membership in the Association was denied or terminated for any reason other than the failure of the pilot to pay initiation (or reinstatement) fees, dues and assessments uniformly required by the Association. Nothing in this Section will require the payment of any initiation fee by any pilot not required to make such a payment pursuant to the Association's Constitution and Bylaws.

Given all the discussion over Eagle and scope over the years, I'd love to hear where AA had the option to hire non-management pilots who didn't need to belong to APA or pay an agency fee. I'm not even sure the management pilots had an option to not belong... I know that the former director of dispatch (Dick Waring) continued to belong to the TWU after moving into management. It wouldn't surprise me if some management pilots also kept their dues current by choice (if not compelled to do so).

Mach or anyone else wearing a hat... how does that work with the management pilots?

 

[Bob Owens]

Mach or anyone else wearing a hat... how does that work with the management pilots?

my guess is
A- they are still on the seniority list, and can return to the rank and file without losing seniority
B-they are not covered under all the agreement.

 

[Vortilon]

Yes, you are right... the government and lawmakers have never let go of the airline industry - they continue to see it as a regulated industry which they can riddle with taxes and regulations....
.
that said, teh airline industry and the railroads are both private sector and benefits have to reflect that.
.
Bob,
what is the average monthly healthcare "tab" for an AA TWU-represented employee w/ a family? ie monthly premium plus out of pocket expenses/deductibles? and if you know for APA and APFA employees?

Being that my wife is a Flight Attendant, I can tell you the amount a FA pays per month for health care coverage is almost exactly half of what the same coverage costs me as a TWU represented AMT.