Health and Welfare Fringe money

TBird55 Rookie

My Question is, Are the Serco tower controllers in other states getting $3.35 in H&W fringe money for those that have declined medical and Dental. Here in Hawaii they have found what seems to be a loop-hole to cut our H&W fringe benefits. Any other company controllers your input would also be appreciated.

Delta5 Rookie

REGISTER OF WAGE DETERMINATIONS UNDER
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
THE SERVICE CONTRACT ACT
Its not the contracting company who decides this.
It's the federal government.
It's on the internet.
Write the president he's in charge. Also from Hawaii to boot.

TBird55 Rookie

Delta 5

I am aware of the Department of Labor and the Service contract Act. All controllers working with Serco should make it a point to be familiar with the laws. Thank you!! And speaking of President Obama, another piece of Legislation that we should be aware of is Executive Order 13204 and 13201.

Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts | The White House


Executive Order -- Notificiation of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Laws | The White House

Delta5 Rookie

Here we go again! Total lies! Fringe money is decided by the Dept of Labor!!! How the money is used is up to the company to set up. The employees still get the benefits. Patco has never gotten more than the Labor Dept has stated. To try and say Patco will change that is a total lie!!!!!!!!!!

EFC Junior Member On a Van by the Sea

Let me make something clear here, PATCO is misleading all controllers. The Health & Welfare allowance is determined by the US Department of Labor (DOL) not by the contractor or PATCO. The DOL (not PATCO) has some very strict laws governing the use of this allowance.

PATCO statement that SERCO, or any other contract company for this matter, will cut your benefits to increase their profits is far from the truth. The contract companies can’t do it; they have to follow DOL guidelines.

The bottom line is: RVA, SERCO, and MIDWEST have different methods to administer the H & W allowance. PATCO has nothing to do with it, and will never be able to change anything.

If anyone wants to compare the methods of all three companies, I will be more than happy to start a new thread to discuss that, but we will need individuals from all 3 companies willing to openly discuss the benefits.

Patrick_Bateman Junior Member Manhattan

Actually that is 100% true and you are misleading people on this board. Serco has cut COLA and allowances, drastically in some cases, for all the towers in Hawaii and Alaska. Serco has also, across the board with the new contract, decided to drop the five days of employer paid sick time in exchange for a new system where you pay yourself out of your H&W money to give yourself five days of PDL per year. Serco forces people to use their H&W money to take PDL unless you can manage to go the entire year without being sick and then (and only then) is that money put into your 401K.

So you mean to tell me that direct pay cuts and loss of all employer paid sick time are not the company cutting benefits to increase the profits in shareholder's pockets? What exactly do you call that then?

atcguruaf Rico Suave Right here

I'm still wondering what PATCO has done. I worked FCT for a while. They did in fact change some benefits that they were offering, however at the time, Serco was the only employer offering those benefits. Every company, in my opinion, has an interest (if not sole interest) in making profits. Why wouldn't they see how much they can get away with to increase profits? Can't blame Serco.

I think this is where a union (PATCO) would/could come into play. However, I understand that PATCO has stated it has helped contract facilities and can continue to do so with other towers. But I am still wondering what they (PATCO) have actually done. In other words, if and when the effort comes at the negotiating table, what prevents Serco, RVA, or Midwest from telling them to take a hike? or ignoring negotiations made by PATCO?

It even happened with the FAA and NATCA with the IWR's. I know I'm not working for an FCT anymore, but I'm still curious because I did used to work for one. I'm just having trouble understanding the benefit of paying into a union that can have little to no effect. Besides, there are some towers that are represented by NATCA. That representation has done nothing for them, as far as I can tell. So why would PATCO be any different?

I'm not anti union or anti PATCO, I just want to know how it all works, I guess. If you have 30% of a facility contributing, and they say they want representation, what then? What's the process? Timing? etc.

TBird55 Rookie

A common statement on this board in regards to unions and specifically PATC0 is all they want is your money. Our facility did choose to request union representation over 4 months ago. In Patco's defense there has been no request for dues until a CBA has been approved by the membership. The membership will vote whether or not to accept the collective bargaining agreement. Further more it is important to state that there is no requirement to join the Union at any time, that decision is a voluntary option for each individual controller. Our company flew a company Manager 5000 miles to convince us we didn't need a union. Their statement to me was it makes no difference to them whether or not we have a union, "just another check to cut." It seemed to me a bit disingenuous at the very least, considering they fly someone out for every election. Every controller needs to decide this matter based on their experiences and work environment. There is valuable information available from the Department of Labor, Service Contract Act and Executive Order 13201 and 13204.

Delta5 Rookie

Patco makes lots of claims but they don't win them though. 12,000 Controllers fired! Thanks Patco!

atcguruaf Rico Suave Right here

I just noticed it says you're in Phelan, CA.... That's where I graduated H.S.!! Nice area though, if you don't mind the "nothing"... but it is growing!

back to topic...

Is there anything that PATCO is doing to promote joining this? I mentioned PATCO the other day at work and people were like "wtf? They're still around?" Same response w/ other co-workers that I went out drinking with the other night that I used to work with.

Basically, for lack of better descriptors, are you guys advertising?


Give me a link and I'll try and spread the word. At minimum, controllers should know you're around, even if they DON'T want to join, at least they know they have the option. But right now, from what I understand, most don't even know you are trying to fight on behalf of FCT's.