• Compass Airlines Flight Attendant Fired For Revealing She Qualified for Food Stamps
• Health Insurance 2011
• Accessing Wings
• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Supporter

AFA Press Release
For Immediate Release: August 26, 2010                                                                                        
Contact:  Corey Caldwell
                                                                                               
Compass Airlines Flight Attendant Fired For Revealing She Qualified for Food Stamps

Washington, DC - A Compass Airlines flight attendant, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), was terminated yesterday after publicly revealing she qualified for foods stamps. Despite a full-time schedule, flight attendant Kirsten Arianejad was recently featured in a local television interview announcing that she had been approved for food stamps in order compensate for her low wages.

"Poverty is not a crime and it is despicable that Compass Airlines would fire an employee for speaking the truth," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "Unfortunately, there are flight attendants across the country who have to rely on federal and state assistance to make ends meet. Instead of paying hardworking flight attendants a living wage, airline management would rather shame them and make them fear for their jobs. We call on Compass to immediately reinstate Kirsten Arianejad."

While regional carriers now operate over 50 percent of daily commercial flying, they continue to pay poverty-level wages to flight attendants and other employees. Many flight attendants from various regional carriers find it difficult to provide for themselves and their families. Compass flight attendants are paid at or near the minimum wage with a starting flight attendant annually making between $13,842 ($1,153.50/month) and $15,453 ($1,287.75/month).  The maximum income level to qualify for food stamps in Arizona for an individual is $1,671, making most flight attendants eligible for assistance.

Compass flight attendants, who joined AFA-CWA in November 2009, are currently in contract negotiations for their first agreement.  Compass Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, Inc., conducts regional flying for Delta Air Lines.
 
For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill.  More than 50,000 flight attendants at 22 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org.

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Health Insurance for 2011

For 2011 there will be some increases and decreases in the health insurance premiums.  Vision insurance will not have any changes.
Dental Insurance for a single employee is going up .07 per month,  $1.22 for employee and spouse, $2.79 for Employee and Children and $4.90 for the family plan.

With the Health Insurance programs of 100%, 90% and 80% there are always many questions. The only difference between the 3 insurances is the deductibles.  The 100% plan has a $225 deductible for singles and $450 for families, couples, employee and children. The 90% plan has a $1,500 deductible for singles and $3,000 for families, couples, employee and children. The 80% plan has a deductible of $3,000 for singles and $6,000 for family, employee and children, and spouses. The coverage is all the same. The biggest difference is the amount of premium you pay for the insurance. 

For a single person the difference between the 100% and 90% plan is $63.22 in premium payments per month That is $758.64 per year. If you have not been in the hospital in 2 years you can put that money aside for any hospital deductibles ($1,500)

For a family the premium difference between the 100% plan and the 90% plan is $217.76 per month or $2,613.12 per year.  Remember for family deductible on the 90% plan is $3,000.

All things being equal, a single employee enrolled in the 90% plan would have to incur more than $7,810 in deductible and co-insurance expenses in a year for health insurance to make the 100% plan viable.

An employee and spouse enrolled in the 90% plan would always save money over the 100% plan because the out-of-pocket maximum is reached when claims incur more than $25,950 per year.

An employee and children enrolled in the 90% will always save money over the 100% plan because the out-of-pocket maximum is reached when claims incurred are more than $25,950.

A family enrolled in the 90% plan would save money over the 100% plan because of the out-of-pocket maximum is reached when claims incurred are more than $25,950.

Are you spending more than $25,950 as a family in health care costs?  Are you, as a single flight attendant spending more than $7,810 per year in health care costs?  If not, you may want to look at the 90% plan as a more viable option for you.

Here are the premiums employees will be paying next year (January 1, 2011) for their health insurance.

100% Plan

Employee only $119.41
Employee and Spouse $238.28
Employee and Children $234.62
Family $407.96

90% Plan

Employee $56.19
Employee and Spouse $112.37
Employee and Children $109.35
Family $ 190.20

80% Plan

Employee $ 21.04
Employee and Spouse $42.08
Employee and Children $40.95
Family $71.14

401K PLANS
How do I choose my investments in my 401(k) Plan?

Once you have enrolled in your US Airways 401 (k) plan, how do you decide which investment options are right for you? The US Airways 401(k) plans offer investments for all stages of retirement planning.  Choose among core investments consisting of short-term, stable value, bond and various equity and specialty finds, a self-directed brokerage option or lifecycle funds.

Deciding on your Investments

Not sure what this means? Need to learn basic investment terms? Go to the Find Resources tab on www.usairways401ksvingsplans.com.  Choose any options under Take an Investing Workshops and this will direct you to Fidelity's e-learning catalog.

Learn More

Find more resources at www.usairways401ksavingsplans.com or contact the Fidelity Service Center for US Airways at 1-800-354-3412 between 8:30 AM and Midnight Monday - Friday.

Representatives from Fidelity and the Retirement Department will be available during the annual Benefits Fairs.  As we get closer I'll provide information on how to sign up for a 20 minute one-on-one sessionS with a Fidelity representative.

Paul H Frishkorn
MEC Benefits Chairperson
pfirshkorn@afausairways.org

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AFA US Airways Website

www.afausairways.org

Accessing Wings:

https://wings.usairways.com
Questions about WINGS? Please contact the EDS Help Desk at (480) 693-6029 for assistance. More information can also be found HERE.

AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325


US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

Reply to Inflight: askinflight@usairways.com

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Your MEC Officers
Association of Flight Attendants
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