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Laffy Kat

(16,522 posts)
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 05:46 PM Apr 2018

My job just got benefited!

YAY! Free health insurance! It's a union job I've had for 3-1/2 years, which I LOVE, but had to pay for insurance out-of-pocket because the job is only 32-hours/week and considered part-time. Well, they just benefited the position even though it's part-time. My patience paid off. I'm so happy! We pay zero for monthly premiums and most co-pays are zero to $5 and the care is top-notch. This will save me close to $450/month. It's like a huge raise.

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My job just got benefited! (Original Post) Laffy Kat Apr 2018 OP
So happy for you. Thats huge. badhair77 Apr 2018 #1
Thanks! I kind of knew it was coming up the pike.. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #3
YES! Yonnie3 Apr 2018 #2
I have a son in college. Need I say more? Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #4
Wooosh, goes the $ ... Yonnie3 Apr 2018 #5
True. But I will also be able to donate more (and not feel guilty). Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #8
Really happy for you. democrank Apr 2018 #6
Thanks, long time coming! Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #15
Happy for you and your co-workers. blm Apr 2018 #7
This is what unions do for people. nt Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #9
Congrats Laffy Kat! kairos12 Apr 2018 #10
Thanks, kairos12. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #16
Congrats on the health care. I'm a PROUD union member blueinredohio Apr 2018 #11
Thanks. It's an actual HMO that I work for, so that's why we get such good benies! Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #17
Happy for you, LK! beveeheart Apr 2018 #12
Thanks, beveeheart. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #22
Sundays off? That's great, I always hated beveeheart Apr 2018 #23
that is great!! KT2000 Apr 2018 #13
Thanks. I've loved this job since I've had it.. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #18
K&R! Omaha Steve Apr 2018 #14
Thanks, OS! Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #19
Congratulations!!! BobTheSubgenius Apr 2018 #20
Thanks, Bob, TSG! nt Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #21
Congrats! IronLionZion Apr 2018 #24
There was a time in this country, when ... aggiesal Apr 2018 #25
I tell people this all the time. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #36
I have a friend that just got hired into a union shop ... aggiesal Apr 2018 #42
That is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! onecent Apr 2018 #26
Good for you!!!! Couple of questions. Fla Dem Apr 2018 #27
It's an HMO (the first HMO created) and the employees have always had free insurance. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #37
Huge raise and peace of mind! MLAA Apr 2018 #28
Yes. I'm recently divorced and it just really, really helps. nt Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #38
Crongrats! Michigan is now a right to work state trixie2 Apr 2018 #29
Great news! Now that's a pay raise! KPN Apr 2018 #30
Unions rock! lunatica Apr 2018 #31
Thank your union louis c Apr 2018 #32
May I ask the name of your union? Oppaloopa Apr 2018 #33
It's in the medical industry, SEIU. nt Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #39
Woo Hoo! tavernier Apr 2018 #34
Thanks, tavernier. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #40
That's TERRIFIC! calimary Apr 2018 #35
Meeeeee toooo. Laffy Kat Apr 2018 #41

Laffy Kat

(16,522 posts)
3. Thanks! I kind of knew it was coming up the pike..
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 05:53 PM
Apr 2018

But wasn't sure until the boss called me into her office on my day off for a "meeting". I knew it was going to be either really good or really bad, LOL. My benies start on the next pay-period.

Laffy Kat

(16,522 posts)
8. True. But I will also be able to donate more (and not feel guilty).
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 06:07 PM
Apr 2018

Eventually, I need another "newer" car; I'll never buy new, but want to pass the one I'm driving down to my other son. It will have a positive domino effect.

blueinredohio

(6,797 posts)
11. Congrats on the health care. I'm a PROUD union member
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 07:07 PM
Apr 2018

I don't have benefits that good but I do have them thank goodness.

Laffy Kat

(16,522 posts)
22. Thanks, beveeheart.
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 08:29 PM
Apr 2018

We need to get together and celebrate. I'll get to give up working on Sundays soon.

beveeheart

(1,404 posts)
23. Sundays off? That's great, I always hated
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 08:56 PM
Apr 2018

working on Sundays when I was (briefly) in retail.

Seen any good movies lately? My movie-watching lately seems to be Netflix and Kindle.

Yes, let's get together.

Laffy Kat

(16,522 posts)
18. Thanks. I've loved this job since I've had it..
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 08:08 PM
Apr 2018

The only thing was the lack of benies, and now I have those, too.

aggiesal

(9,467 posts)
25. There was a time in this country, when ...
Tue Apr 24, 2018, 09:52 AM
Apr 2018

a union shop entered a community the community cheered.
Why?
Because when a union shop enters a community, not only do union
jobs pay well, but that shop raises all wages in the community.

Congratulations!

Laffy Kat

(16,522 posts)
36. I tell people this all the time.
Wed Apr 25, 2018, 01:04 AM
Apr 2018

It is so discouraging how many people are against unions. Just the term, "Right to Work" state infuriates me. The other thing that bothers me are all the employees I work with who receive union representation but do not pay union dues. I have been paying extra dues since I started this job to help make up the for those who don't. I plan to add even more now.

Thanks for the congrats!

aggiesal

(9,467 posts)
42. I have a friend that just got hired into a union shop ...
Wed Apr 25, 2018, 10:52 AM
Apr 2018

driving a bus.

She immediately started telling me that she can save on the
union dues because California is a Right-To-Work state.

I told her Right-To-Work means Right-To-Work-For-Less.
It's breaking down the power of unions so that unions will
have to concede wages and benefits due to membership size.

This country had the strongest middle-class in the history
of the world (50's, 60's & 70's), when unions had about
33% of the workforce.

Since McIdiot Ronnie Raygun created a war on unions, the
middle class has been shrinking ever since.

I don't know why people can't see this.

Fla Dem

(25,684 posts)
27. Good for you!!!! Couple of questions.
Tue Apr 24, 2018, 11:02 AM
Apr 2018

Is the insurance provided through the union or your employer? Did they say why they are now going to provide free health care? Just curious if they are crediting the Trump tax cut?

Whatever the reason, I'm very happy for you Laffy Kat!

Laffy Kat

(16,522 posts)
37. It's an HMO (the first HMO created) and the employees have always had free insurance.
Wed Apr 25, 2018, 01:10 AM
Apr 2018

And up until recently, those who put in 25 years could retire with free insurance. They have grand-fathered that out, unfortunately, although they still get the HMO medical at a greatly reduced cost. I started too late to qualify for any of that. It's almost impossible to get a position in this organization due to the medical insurance benefits and the union. Our hourly pay is quite good as well. The reason I took this job almost four years ago was to get my foot in the door and I'm so glad I did.

Thank you!

KPN

(16,101 posts)
30. Great news! Now that's a pay raise!
Tue Apr 24, 2018, 12:33 PM
Apr 2018

A tangible, life-changing benefit of unions. . If only we could get this word out to workers everywhere throughout the nation.

Just think about the economic stimulus that would be generated by providing all workers with health coverage like this.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
31. Unions rock!
Tue Apr 24, 2018, 12:52 PM
Apr 2018

I’m a proud Teamster who was lifted out of years of having to shop at the Dollar Store to make ends meet when my union negotiated a five year contract that increased our pay by 15% over five years. When that was over they negotiated another five year contract that increased it by 19% percent.

Just to show you how amazing that is, in the same 10 year period the rest of the administrative workers (in UC Berkeley) got two one time raises. One was 2% across the board raise, and the other was 3% merit only raise to be distributed within the department among all the non union represented staff. That was a hard slap in the face to the staff. That included all the supervisors, student assistants, lab management, HR, Payroll, Purchasing and Accounts payable, an army of internal grounds keepers, electricians, janitors, shuttle drivers, food preparers and servers and office staff for each department. Many of them belonged to other unions, but ours which represented the clerical workers is the strong one.

Congratulations!

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