Okay, so now we know that the holiday number is from 9 to 7. The reason I asked is that the info out there was the union stating 4 and Verizon stating 2. Now we have a hard number. As to the medical. it has been posted on here at around $4500.00 per year and now Mr. Ross has posted that he has heard as high as $600.00 per month/ making it $7200.00 per year. It is very hard to make any educated decission without all of the details so I don't envy those of you involved in this. As for your personal info out there for all to see, we are being provided general numbers from what I have read on the different websites, both union and corporate.
While I won't give specific personal data, our income is higher and we save 5% towards retirement along with a company match. There is no such thing as a pension here. We are spoiled in that there are numerous paid days off via 1 week shut downs in Summer and at the Christmas holidays. These are in addition to 5 weeks vacation per year, 10 sick days, and 8 personal days. While I believe that this is excessive, you should have heard the complaints when 2 holidays were taken away in exchange for the Summer week. This is a non union corporation and people were livid about losing these 2 days even though they were gaining 3 more
. It seems as if there is no pleasing everyone. Our medical has increased in cost every year, dental is limited, vision is a joke, prescription is climbing higher. Where we are, we are considered middle class yet with the high cost of living we are paycheck to paycheck. Don't get me started on college and financial aid, as we don't qualify unless our kids choose one of the Ivy League Schools. I don't consider 100% student loans to be aid. For the record we bought a "starter" home and those were over $600,000. when we entered the California market. Remember, the FAFSA doesn't consider cost of living for the region where you live. So while we may look like we earn a lot on paper, our high cost of living makes it very hard. And before anyone gets the idea that we should rent instead of buy, the average 4 bedroom rents for over $3000.00 unless you are willing to take on a multi hour commute. Our public transportation is nothing like what you have in the North East cities. It isn't that we all are so different, we just may not share the same views. I'd gladly give up some vacation time for lower cost benefits and the ability to have better health care plans. Like you all, we can only choose from what the company offers.
Had to go look this up. Medical is $1900.00 per year for 10% co-pay of negotiated rate as long as you stay in network. This is after (3) $350.00 deductibles per family. Dental is $165.00 per year with a $50.00 per person yearly deductible, $1500.00 max per person/per year. This is for a ppo plan in medical, hmo costs were much higher. In fact, can't wait for October to come and the new benefit plans for next year will be revealed. We get the prices for them during the signup period in mid-November.
. I understand that the union is being squeezed out of shops due to the higher costs of the union workers. You are well within your rights to strike and attempt to sway public opinion to your cause. What I and others have a hard time with is the rhetoric that you are somehow saving the rest of us. The truth of the matter is that your union is fighting the same shrinking workforce options that everyone else is facing. I don't believe that either side is telling the whole truth or that either side is being honest about the other's position. Again, I am challenged that 45,000 workers walked off the job or were locked out and didn't have the all the details to make an educated choice. This is illustrated by the range listed for what the medical benefits would cost.
