10.06.17 – (LAA/LUS) – COBRA Coverage After Retirement/Elections Matter/Clarification on Company Com/UNICEF/Uniform Reaction Report Update

Friday, October 6, 2017

COBRA Coverage After Retirement – LAA/LUS
Elections Matter – LAA/LUS
Clarification on 15-Minute Walk-throughs – LAA/LUS
UNICEF – Change for Good – LAA/LUS
Uniform Reaction Update – LAA/LUS

COBRA Coverage After Retirement – LAA/LUS

Are you considering retiring or leaving in 2018?
Will you be leaving before age 65?
Will you be looking at continuing your company insurance coverage thru COBRA?

If you answered yes to all three of these questions, please choose your 2018 benefit elections carefully (Standard or Value Plus plans).

There are significant differences in the cost of these two plans, and whatever coverage you select for 2018 will be the coverage you must continue through COBRA.

You cannot change your plan mid-year when you transition to COBRA. We have posted the 2018 COBRA insurance rates on the retirement page of the APFA website so you can see the cost comparison.

COBRA solicitations are mailed out by the Benefits Service Center after your separation date and per federal law, you have 60 days from your last day covered as an employee to sign up for benefits.

Ron Harris
APFA National Retirement Specialist
[email protected]

Elections Matter – LAA/LUS

On November 7th, both Virginia and New Jersey voters will elect their next governor. These are the two major elections of 2017 and they will generate a great deal of coverage. Many will see the outcomes as a predictor of the 2018 elections when the control of both the House and the Senate will be in play. In the coming weeks, we will profile each election and will be encouraging APFA members in each state to get out and vote.

Over the past few months we have witnessed the labor movement be slowly eroded as worker protection rights come under attack and workers’ rights to organize are challenged. In last week’s hotline, we mentioned the two most recent events that, yet again, attempt to weaken the labor movement: the Supreme Court decision to hear a case on public sector unions and the President’s appointment of William Emmanuel to the National Labor Relations Board. These are just the latest assaults on unions.

This is precisely why elections really do matter, and it highlights our vital need to elect pro-labor candidates. If you are a Virginia or New Jerseyvoter, check your voter registration status today. In Virginia you must be registered by 10/16. In New Jersey you must be registered 21 days prior to the election (10/17.) Double check to be sure you are still registered so that your ballot will be counted on November 7th.

Virginia Information >>

New Jersey Information >>

Allie Malis
APFA Interim National Government Affairs Representative
[email protected]

Clarification on 15-Minute Walk-throughs – LAA/LUS

Earlier this week, the Company issued an email as well as an HI-6/CBS message which misstated the IPD service procedures outlined in the Flight Attendant tablet regarding 15-minute walk-throughs. The word, Periodically was omitted from the following sentence:

[Periodically] offer water and juice from a 9-hole tray.

To clarify: Standard service procedures do NOT require a water & juice service each time a 15-minute walk-through is performed.

UNICEF – Change for Good – LAA/LUS

During the month of October, Flight Attendant UNICEF Champions for Children will collect Change for Good donations to help support the disaster relief efforts currently underway in the Caribbean, Mexico and Puerto Rico. For every donation that is made, American Airlines will double the impact of these donations by MATCHING DOLLAR for DOLLAR all funds collected!

Thanks to all the Champions for Children volunteers who make the Change for Good program such a huge success. If you are considering becoming a volunteer, email [email protected] for more information.

Uniform Reaction Update – LAA/LUS