Email received on the issue:
Hello Everyone:
Please take the time to read the attachments, as this is going to directly affect you. The company will soon be sending out a letter regarding our health insurance premiums, stating that our union is not supporting us and that is completely untrue. The company would like you to believe that but they are not giving you the whole picture. Our union and its representatives are concerned with the big picture and what will happen to our insurance premiums in years '10 and 11. Although we would all like to receive a 8% cut in our insurance rates now, we surely do not want to experience our insurance rates being doubled or possibly more in the coming years. This is of major concern to our representatives that are trying to protect us from experiencing that. As you read the attachments, you will see why we are filing a grievance in regards to our insurance rates.
If I have missed anyone in this e-mail that you know should also have this information, please pass it on. The more informed we are, the better prepared we will be to stand together to fight for our rights.
Attachments:
September 24, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
The purpose of this letter is to address E. Allen Hemenway’s recently posted letter concerning your monthly contribution premiums for healthcare in 2009. Make no mistake about it; Mr. Hemenway lied to you in his letter in an underhanded attempt to turn you against your Union. He outrageously mischaracterizes the position of your Union regarding employee contribution premiums for 2009 and intentionally left out critical details of the Company’s position that could result in employees paying exorbitant premiums in years to come. In light of the sacrifices you have made over the last decade to keep this Company in business, he should be ashamed of what he has done.
The dispute over 2009 contributions is simple. Instead of approaching the IBT/CWA Association to bargain over 2009 contributions, US Airways informed the Association and other Unions on the property that it had unilaterally decided what employees’ contribution rates for 2009 would be. In doing so, US Airways ignored its legal obligation to bargain over this change to employee health insurance premiums. Indeed, Mr. Hemenway’s letter makes it clear US Airways has no intention of bargaining now or in the future years with the Association over employee insurance rates.
In response to this edict from the Company, the Association clearly stated its demand for bargaining. In fact, it did so in writing on September 8, 2008 to Mr. Hemenway. The Association’s position is that US Airways does not have the right to unilaterally change insurance rates, now or in the future. Bargaining with the Association on this matter is mandatory, not optional. Although the Association has demanded bargaining, the Company has refused. Instead, it chose to issue Mr. Hemenway’s letter in attempt to undermine the Association by dealing directly with the employees.
What Mr. Hemenway conveniently left out of his letter is that if the Association simply accepted the Company’s position without bargaining, it would give your Union no say whatsoever in employee contribution rates through 2011. Although the Company’s unilaterally-determined contribution rates for 2009 may be less than the 2008 rates, the Association was not given the opportunity to negotiate a potentially even lower rate for you. Furthermore, the Company’s position would leave it free to raise contribution rates for 2010 and 2011 to whatever amount they wished. It could potentially double or triple rates or even raise them higher. This is unacceptable to the Association. Rest assured the Association is working to protect your interests now and in future situations involving your healthcare and its cost to you.
In Solidarity,
Second attachment:
September 24, 2008
Mr. Ron Harbinson
Director, Labor Relations-Ground
US Airways, Inc.
111 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85281
On August 26, 2008, US Airways informed the IBT-CWA Association of its intention to unilaterally change an employee working condition. US Airways announced it had chosen a method for calculating insurance rates and the company would be altering employees’ 2009 insurance rates. The company maintains it has the right to decide how insurance rates will be determined and to alter the Class or Craft’s insurance rates without negotiating with the Association for 2009 and beyond. US Airways unwillingness to bargain on these issues is ongoing.
As remedy, the Association requests US Airways negotiate both the way in which employee insurance rates are determined and the rate which will apply to employees represented by the Association and any other relief found to be appropriate.
Sincerely,
***** For those who dont understand, look at the arbitrators ruling regarding the retirees and you can see where this one was headed. :down: :down: :down:
