Member FAQs
Your most frequent “Just Ask” questions and replies
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| Retiree Benefits | ||
| Pre-Bankruptcy Pay | ||
| Stores Point System | ||
Retiree travel, retiree insurance
Question
“Here is an email that is going around. Can you advise where we stand? ‘I have been told #1- United wants to get rid of all insurance for retirees. This means if you have blue cross blue shield as a primarily, it’s gone. If your husband/wife has it, it’s gone. If your husband/wife has a pre excising condition, cancer, heart trouble or what ever, it’s gone and where will you find insurance. #2- United wants to improve aircraft boarding. United wants retirees to be vary last to board aircraft. United wants to eventuality eliminate air travel for retirees.’ Is this true or is it just another vicious rumor?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — United has not proposed or discussed any elimination of retirees' insurance or travel benefits.
While we have not dealt with insurance issues to any great extent yet in negotiations, the company’s opening proposals — which can be viewed on our website — did not include any such proposal.
The position of District 141 is that Retirees' insurance is as vital and necessary as active employees' coverage — we do not separate the two groups.
There has been no discussion in negotiations regarding any elimination of benefits, and District 141 would not agree to such a suggestion.
More retiree benefits, travel rumors
Question
“I have recvd 2 different emails lately stating that ual & iam are making changes to the retirees health ins and their travel benefits. Specifically terminating the health ins, and changing retiree to BP-9 priority. Is there any truth to these emails?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, January, 2010 — There is no truth to the rumor that any discussion is going on between the IAM and United regarding the termination of benefits or modifications in boarding authority for retirees. | top
What about future retirees?
“Word is that Delaney is about to throw retirees under the bus again, is this true? 'Delaney announces to his insiders that UAL will not go after the current retirees insurance, but will go after the future retirees.' This being said, is this true and where is Delaney on all of this?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, January, 2010 — There has been no agreement made between the IAM and United regarding future retirees benefits.
It is a subject of negotiation and is part of an overall proposal made by United. However, the fact that it is a proposal does not mean it is acceptable. We have no intention of changing benefits for retirees, unless we are able to improve them.
The fact that I have told members in open forums at regular Union meetings that the Company has proposed this does not constitute hidden "insider" information. Thanks for writing.
Retiring from sick/injury leave
Question
“A person with over 12 year working for ual and been terminated due to an accident and soon will be collecting money from PBGC — Does that person get the benefit of travel as a Retiree?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — In order to be considered eligible for retiree benefits, such as health insurance and flight benefits you must retire from United as an active employee.
If you have been removed from the Seniority List due to the expiration of Extended Illness Status, and later begin to receive monthly pension benefits from the PBGC, you will not be considered to have retired as an active employee. Therefore are not eligible for retiree
benefits.
I encourage you to verify your eligibility with United Airlines so that any and all benefits you may be entitled to are received. | top
Retiree’s eligible travel, early out
Question
“1) when retiring at 55 or older, do you keep flying benefits for eligibles?” and...
“2) when accepting an “early out” as listed on Unite airlines skynet does the employees eligibles continue to receive flying benefits?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — Members retiring at age 55 must have a minimum of 10 years seniority in order to qualify for retiree benefits such as travel and insurance.
A person taking the “early out” option qualifies for travel benefits to the same extent as a person retiring does. This means that boarding priority and seniority is handled the same for these members as it is for retirees retiring with less than 25 years of service.
PBGC pension benefit
Question
“How did our represtative "forget" to file paperwork for the raise in our PBGC retirement, and then have the nerve to raise our union dues. I do not care how much or to how little this amount would have been after all the money that this company has STOLEN from us any money is good. If our union cannot be responsible enough to meet deadlines and FIGHT for the union members that they collect dues from every month then what good is having a union?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, January 16, 2010 — In regards to the recent PBGC ruling concerning the final calculation of benefits for United eligibles, there was never a “deadline” for filing any paperwork.
There was never an appeal process established by the PBGC. The PBGC unilaterally determined the distribution of benefits.
No union or employee group “negotiated” the benefits.
The Legal Department of the IAM reviewed the action of the PBGC and determined it did not violate any statute and therefore was not subject to appeal.
If you believe there was a missed deadline regarding the PBGC and the IAM
please forward that information to us immediately so we may have it
examined by our legal counsel. Thanks for writing. | top
Underfunding IAM pension, retiree benefits
Question
“Are the retirees benefits protected under the new contract? Is there under funding of the iam pension of 2,000,000,000. i received a letter regarding this under funding of the iam from the govt?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — There are no proposals in our negotiations regarding the elimination of retirees' benefits.
The IAM National Pension Fund has requested a waiver for funding the Plan to 100%. This waiver is a result of the negative effect the stock market has had on the overall value of the Pension Plan; it is not caused by any failure to make the contractually required monthly contributions.
The value of all IAM Plans has rebounded faster than the stock market in general, but the waiver was necessary and required by ERISA.
We are very sensitive to any shortfall in pension plans and have followed up with our International Union to make sure the pension plans of United Members are safe. We have been assured that our plans are not the subject of concern for pension regulators. We will continue to monitor this situation and report to our members as more information becomes available.
Dues on furlough
Question
“If i am furloughed and plan on returning to service after lets just say a year or so, Am I expected to pay dues while on furlough? Is it a reduced rate? And if I do not pay dues will I be subject for recall? If I am recalled without having paying dues will I be subject to paying back dues? Just curious how to stay in good standing”
Reply
Rich Delaney, January, 2010 — I encourage you to contact the Secretary Treasurer of [your local lodge] to insure your dues are handled correctly in the event of your furlough.
Upon furlough, a Member has a few options.
One, is to apply for an Honorary Withdrawal Card. This will suspend your membership during a period of inactive status and does not require monthly payment. It requires a $1.00 payment at the beginning of inactivity and a $10.00 fee upon return to duty. This Honorary Withdrawal Card must be applied for through [your local lodge].
A second option would be to continue to pay monthly dues at the rate of $2.00 per month. This keeps your membership active and does not require any additional fees.
The options you choose are a personal decision you make based on your individual circumstances. | top
Job security – equal representation for both ramp and
customer service
Question
“The first rumor that is out there is that the CSR's at ORD are not being represented because we are the only group that are consistently being furloughed to the street.
Also that our president is not communicating with our committee person. He is not returning phone calls or emails. However at the same time he is sharing meals with VP Scott Dolan (who is in charge of slicing away at our jobs).
I would like to see some communication from our Union leader at this time when people are being forced out on the street at the holidays.”
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — It is unfortunate that individuals are using the pain and anxiety of others for their personal benefit. Any furlough is devastating to the person affected, and it is even worse when that furlough is used for political purposes.
Again unfortunately, the furloughs occurring in ORDCS are part of an extensive reduction occurring throughout United Airlines impacting both CSR’s and RSM’s. This is a problem that has been going on for the past several years and has caused the loss of jobs for every classification within our Union. That is a fact that your committee person is not only aware of but had an active part in causing.
Communicating with your committee person is the responsibility of the Assistant General Chairman assigned to [your station and work group]. I have investigated your concern and am confident that the necessary communication is working as intended.
Job security – CS lobby
Question
Today I heard that the A and B Ticket counter positions were going to be outsourced at ORD. Is this true? Thanks.
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 —There is no announced plan to increase the use of vendors in the lobby operation. There has been no discussions with United to suggest that this is being considered. | top
Work conditions – gate agent chairs
Question
“I was wondering why the company is against having stools/chairs for the agents at the gates. We seem to be one of the only airlines that do not permit this. Also is this issue possibly being raised during this round of negotiations?”
Reply
Rich Delaney — We have brought the issue of chairs in the lobby to the bargaining table.
There is no conclusion yet, but this remains one of the Union’s Safety and Health proposals.
Point system – stores
Question
“Will stores be brought into the point attendance policy?”
Reply
Rich Delaney — Current Storekeepers reporting to Airport Ops management are included in the Dependability Point System.
Any changes to this would occur through contract negotiations, and would not become effective until an overall agreement is reached with the company and ratified by the Membership. | top
Benefits – health care
Question
“IN THE UNION NEGOTIATIONS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE WHAT ARE EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS?”Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — The Company introduced the concept of Exclusive Provider Organization in our first meeting regarding insurance.
The explanation we were given was that EPO's are an alternative to HMO's but on a nationwide scale instead of a regional or local approach.
We need much more information regarding this type of coverage before entering into any discussion about it. The initial explanation is that this type of insurance provider gives cost benefits to both the Company and employees due to the broader purchasing power of a large company covering a larger area, while potentially providing greater coverage. This remains to be seen.
Our discussions regarding insurance is going to be very comprehensive and will not be completed quickly. The concept of EPO's is one part of an overall package of changes suggested by United Airlines. Please keep checking our web site for information as it becomes available and please ask additional questions as they occur to you. | top
Recall rights
Question
“I am a former City Ticket Office (CTO) agent that was furloughed in Feb 2003. I was later rehired by UA in Sept 2003 as a Baggage Service Operator,a non-union job. In May of 2006 I was furloughed again. Nothing was said when I left the non-union job. When you are on the outside it is hard finding information.
I want to return to UA in a Union position. I also want to know how long I need to be with the company in that position. Also am I facing any time restriction that I should be aware of. When the CTO's closed we were told there was no time restraints. I have a great deal invested into United. Thanks for any help or direction.”
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — You continue to have lifetime recall rights to your CTO position, which keeps your employee relationship with United intact.
If you are able to return to an IAM covered position, within the PCE group, you would need to work a minimum of 60 days before retiring.
Pre-bankruptcy benefit levels
Question
“Will the iam ask for our vacation time to be returned to pre bankruptcy filing?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, December, 2009 — We have proposed a return to pre-bankruptcy levels for both vacation weeks and accrual.
This was done the first day of negotiations. The IAM has proposed a return of all benefits to pre-bankruptcy levels. While we have had some discussion with United about all benefits, we have not yet agreed on any specific level.
This will be part of the overall tentative agreement that will address all contract issues. | top
Pre-bankruptcy pay
Question
“Will there be any attempt to return pay scale progression for the ramp from 10 yrs to 5 yrs?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, November, 2009 — The IAM has proposed both a wage increase and a shortened progression rate.
We have not begun talking specifically about wages at this time but have presented this proposal to United on the first day of negotiations.
Job security
Question
“Is there any truth that our bag room facilities or any other aspect of ramp service work being outsourced?”
Answer
Rich Delaney, November, 2009 — Article II of our current Agreement prevents the Company from contracting out RSM work. Thanks for writing. | top
Union business travel
Question
“United Airlines pays the travel expense for IAM people where as the Teamsters they pay their own?”
Reply
Rich Delaney, November, 2009 — I am not sure what “expenses” you are referring to. United does not pay IAM Members for Union travel. Business travel is used, when authorized, but is not a paid expense to the Union. If you are concerned about some other type of expense please let me know and I will follow up. | top