Originally Posted by
XprsFr8r
The real point to be understood is that the NC made an earnest effort to fix the gap between mandatory retirement age 60 health care benefits and the onset of Medicare at age 65 for those guys that will be affected during this contract. This may seem like a cornerstone issue for only a small percentage of us, but it's in all our interests to establish a fix as early as possible. Besides, it's the right thing to do: many of these guys have been fighting for a decent contract for almost 20 years. They won't benefit from many of the enhancements we may get. Let's at least give 'em something worthwhile as they come to the end of their careers.
Folks, you are missing my point. I am NOT trying to diminish the importance of fixing retiree healthcare. I am not saying that it shouldn't be an important concern for those that are soon to be retired.
What I am saying is that we all filled out a multiple page, multiple question survey that was to DICTATE what issues are CORNERSTONE.
When we filled that out, a little more than 12% were to retire (and back then, most of the non-members by the way). How was it that after reviewing the data provided by our membership collectively, retiree healthcare was in those top four?
Think:
Pay
Retirement
Scope
Scheduling
Workrules
Vacation
CURRENT HEALTHCARE COSTS
Now, again.......how is it that 12% of our crewforce dictated the direction of the goals of the NC?
Did the NC do a fantastic job achieving a TA? Absolutely! I have confidence in my union as well as B.C. I am just asking, does everyone here agree that retiree healthcare legitimately should be placed in the top 4?