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Bankruptcy Judge Backs AFA-CWA In Retiree Health Care Fight
United Airlines flight attendants and retirees, members of AFA-CWA, have been getting lots of support on Capitol Hill in their fight to protect retiree health care for 2,500 pensioners.
Now, the federal judge who is overseeing United's bid to emerge from bankruptcy also has ruled in attendants' favor, supporting AFA-CWA's call for an examiner to investigate United's double-cross that would raise health care costs for newly retired attendants.
Some 2,500 attendants opted to retire last year because United promised that workers who retired before July 1 would be protected from a big increase in health care costs, cuts in their benefits, or both.
Now, United is attempting a "bait and switch" and wants to use the bankruptcy court procedure to renege on that agreement, forcing many retired attendants to pay as much as $650 a month - more than 10 times what they now pay - on an average pension of about $1,200 a month, just to continue their health care coverage.
"The employees and retirees who have sacrificed billions of dollars annually to see United succeed deserve to know the extent of management's deception in baiting employees to retire with false promises of secure and reasonably priced medical benefits," said Greg Davidowitch, president of the AFA-CWA United Master Executive Council.
The judge urged the U.S. trustee to appoint an examiner who would report to the bankruptcy court by March 19.
AFA-CWA members have been meeting with members of Congress on Capitol Hill and raising the issue at their home bases.
More than 100 members of the U.S. House signed a letter to United's chief executive officer Glenn Tilton. A separate letter came from 19 senators. Thousands of letters from active and retired attendants poured into United offices.
Attendants in Chicago, Denver and other locations leafleted and rallied, focusing public attention on United's double-cross as the airline was launching its new discount carrier, Ted, based in Denver. A media campaign, with newspaper ads featuring recently retired attendants, also bolstered the workers' fight.
Now, the federal judge who is overseeing United's bid to emerge from bankruptcy also has ruled in attendants' favor, supporting AFA-CWA's call for an examiner to investigate United's double-cross that would raise health care costs for newly retired attendants.
Some 2,500 attendants opted to retire last year because United promised that workers who retired before July 1 would be protected from a big increase in health care costs, cuts in their benefits, or both.
Now, United is attempting a "bait and switch" and wants to use the bankruptcy court procedure to renege on that agreement, forcing many retired attendants to pay as much as $650 a month - more than 10 times what they now pay - on an average pension of about $1,200 a month, just to continue their health care coverage.
"The employees and retirees who have sacrificed billions of dollars annually to see United succeed deserve to know the extent of management's deception in baiting employees to retire with false promises of secure and reasonably priced medical benefits," said Greg Davidowitch, president of the AFA-CWA United Master Executive Council.
The judge urged the U.S. trustee to appoint an examiner who would report to the bankruptcy court by March 19.
AFA-CWA members have been meeting with members of Congress on Capitol Hill and raising the issue at their home bases.
More than 100 members of the U.S. House signed a letter to United's chief executive officer Glenn Tilton. A separate letter came from 19 senators. Thousands of letters from active and retired attendants poured into United offices.
Attendants in Chicago, Denver and other locations leafleted and rallied, focusing public attention on United's double-cross as the airline was launching its new discount carrier, Ted, based in Denver. A media campaign, with newspaper ads featuring recently retired attendants, also bolstered the workers' fight.