Just doing the math. 100.00 Per week for full family coverage that meets the level given by the Central States Contract is the typical amount one would pay working for a company with no union contract. Times 52 weeks a year is 5,200.00, *17 years is 88,400.00 for the 17 years I worked @ ABF. That is a huge difference in benefits. And paying that premium after taxes have been deducted from your pay check is about another 23% increase in your medical premium, unless you can itemize. So now you are paying about 6, 396.00 per year for the coverage. For 17 years I never once had to pay a weekly premium to have medical insurance. So what did my company under contract do for me that many other companies would or could not? @ 533.00 more per month in my pocket, a truck payment, tuition for a child, loan pmt for you bass boat or camper, more steak dinners @ Texas Road House, a little more in the collection plate @ church, karate lessons for family members, pick a subject. I was very lucky to work under a CBA that had no medical premium deductions. Do the math, it cost me 62.00 a month in union dues to have what most people don’t have in the work place. Yes the Pension fund is going broke. We have questionable & some crooked leaders in the IBT. And most Unions are on the ropes. But I would do it all over again. So when I think of benefits other than wages, I think one would be hard pressed to find something better in the work place. Be safe out there. Von.
