Feb 022016
 

IRS-Tax-Refund-300x207We have received a few calls regarding the new 1095-C form that you will be receiving from AT&T. You should have received a letter from AT&T stating that it would be sent to you in late January. However, on December 28, 2015 the IRS extended the due dates for large employers to send these forms. Large employers have until March 31, 2016 to get these forms to you. Below, we quote from the IRS website (follow the link for additional information):

Some taxpayers may not receive a Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C by the time they are ready to file their 2015 tax return. While the information on these forms may assist in preparing a return, they are not required. Individual taxpayers will generally not be affected by this extension and should file their returns as they normally would.

Consult your tax professional for more information regarding this.

Jan 132014
 

retirement-laneAT&T retirees were surprised when the company recently sent information related to open enrollment for the retiree medical benefits.  Retirees under the age of 65, who are not eligible for Medicare, saw premium increases of hundreds of dollars a month for coverage under the standard PPO plan.  Retirees on Medicare saw a jump in premiums of about 500% for supplemental insurance. CWA and the Alliance believe that the company should have done more for retirees, as AT&T enjoys healthy profits and significant dividends for shareholders. “Corporate executives should do more to assure that former employees who built the company have quality, affordable health care, and don’t flounder in unilateral, drastic and unprecedented increases,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance For Retired Americans..

Some in the company told retirees that the reason for the extraordinary increases is the Affordable Care Act.  Nothing could be further than the truth.  In fact, there are two provisions of the Affordable Care Act that would impact AT&T’s retiree health plan.  First, it improves Medicare by including full coverage of preventive care and recapturing overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans.  Second, the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program set aside funds for employers who offer retiree health benefits, rebating $213.8 million to AT&T between 2011 and 2012 to offset the cost of claims from early retirees. Both these provisions eased the company’s cost burden, but AT&T has chosen not to share that cost relief with retirees.

In 2012, AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson earned $22.23 million, 642 times the average worker’s pay ($34,645). Please take action and tell him that passing down increases to the tune of 500% in monthly premiums for supplemental health care is uncalled for. Send him an email by using this link: [http://bit.ly/1cKhZ3m] or send him a letter: Randall L. Stephenson / Chairman, Chief Executive Officer / AT&T Corporation / 208 South Akard Street / Dallas, Texas 75202-4206.

Dec 062013
 
AT&T Plan For Landlines

AT&T Plan For Landlines

Brothers and Sisters, 

I am reaching out to you about the recent Senate Bill (SB636) that was just passed by the Michigan Senate late today.  
 
As was discussed at the Executive Board Meeting we had on Tuesday, all concerned parties were in a state of playing cat and mouse with the Michigan Senate on this bill.  This item was not placed on the Senate Committee Agenda until the end of business Monday, just one day prior to the meeting of the Energy and Technology Committee that is chaired by Sen. Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek).
 
Tuesday, that next day, SB636 was voted to be moved out of committee to the Senate Floor for overall approval, by an 8 to 1 vote.  Sen. Howard Walker (R-Traverse City) was Continue reading »
Nov 302012
 

The CWA Telephone & Technology Office has been made aware of a Facebook posting stating that Avaya has eliminated post- 65 retiree medical coverage for 2013, and now requires pre-65 retirees to enroll in the Avaya retiree medical plan in 2013, or lose their ability to enroll in the medical plan in future years, as Avaya will no longer allow retirees to opt out of the medical plan and opt back in, in future years.

These changes apply to Avaya management retirees only! No changes have, or can, be made to formerly represented retirees for the length of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. (See? Unions matter!)

Any Avaya retirees with questions or concerns on this or any other retiree healthcare issue should send an email to mflagge@cwa-union.org.

Nov 052012
 

As a result of ongoing discussions surrounding retiree benefits, annual enrollment for retirees will be extended until November 30, 2012. In addition, another postcard, or an e-mail if that was the retiree’s preference, will be sent to all retirees informing them of the zero premium option as well as letting them know that even if they have already submitted their enrollment for 2013 they will be able to change their selections before November 30th.  Continue reading »

 Posted by at 10:28 am
Oct 272012
 

It is the Company’s position on split families (where either the retiree or spouse is Medicare eligible and the other is not),that if the retiree is the one that is Medicare eligible they will pay the $10.00 and the spouse, if not Medicare eligible, would be charged $146.25 (the difference between single coverage at $75.00 and the +1 category at $216.00 since they are not the primary plan participant. On the other hand, if the situation is reversed and the spouse is the Medicare eligible person and the retiree is not Medicare eligible, the retiree would be charged the single rate of $75.00 and the spouse would pay the $10.00 premium for Medicare eligible.

Oct 272012
 

AT&T retirees have been surprised, or even shocked, recently when the company sent information related to open enrollment for the retiree medical benefits.  Retirees under the age of 65, who are not eligible for Medicare, saw premium increases of hundreds of dollars a month for coverage under the standard PPO plan.  

Retiree health benefits are a permissive* subject of bargaining, and for the past two rounds of bargaining, the company has refused to negotiate with the union over the terms of the retiree health benefit package.

The reason for the cost shift is a result of the employer contribution cap kicking in.  Continue reading »

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