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Health Care Matters Ad Campaign USA
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AFA's Ad Campaign In USA TODAY
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Eileen Bugbee, Cancer Survivor
Cheated
by United Airlines.
"I had surgery for cancer on January 7, 2003."
"Still, I had no intention of taking early retirement. Complications
set in.
United Airlines offered continued health care at affordable rates if I retired
before July 1. I did it to preserve my medical benefits." -- Eileen
Bugbee
Eileen had United’s word in a binding contract for her health insurance.
United Airlines offered health insurance at reasonable rates to flight attendants in exchange for retiring by July 1 last year. Many flight attendants, like Eileen, took early retirement and a reduced pension just so they could preserve those medical benefits. That offer became part of United’s renegotiated contract during bankruptcy proceedings that saved United hundreds of millions of dollars each year. 2,500 flight attendants accepted United’s offer--more than had ever retired before in United’s history.
"Now United says it is going to cut my health benefits, raising my costs by hundreds of dollars. I can’t afford it."
United is trying to use the power of the bankruptcy court to betray Eileen and all of the flight attendants who took United’s word and retired before July 1, 2003.
The sacrifices of Eileen Bugbee and thousands of other flight attendants have helped United significantly in the past months. The airline has increased its revenue, lowered costs, met or exceeded all of its financial targets and secured promises of financing to exit bankruptcy.
United does not need to cut its retirees’ health care or go back on its agreement.
Those flight attendants who retired early are living on modest, fixed monthly pensions averaging $1,200. Under United’s new plan, retirees' out-of-pocket charges will skyrocket and could reach more than $650 monthly-- ten times what they pay today.
We're asking the bankruptcy court to appoint a special examiner to investigate United’s plan to trick thousands of workers into early retirement. But just as important, United Airlines should not be allowed to use the bankruptcy laws to renege on its agreement and betray its employees and retirees.
Tell United: Cheating retirees is wrong.
For more information visit www.unitedafa.org.
A message from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, representing 21,000 flight attendants at United Airlines.