IR Tech posts on a FB thread he just took a management position......I said, you realize that if you don’t retire by 1/22...you’ll get NO medical in retirement. They just cut there pension and 401K. He replies I know ...but after 30 years I got to do something different???????? 😂😂😂 yeah work the rest of your life!!!! LOL
12 replies (most recent on top)
I have the best job and boss in the company. I feel more secure than I have ever been. I'm eligible to retire but I just go promoted, very generous bump, bonus was great. I'm happy as a pig in slop. I really enjoy the people I work with and we all pull our weight. The people I work with have that WW II work ethic and volunteer to get the job done. I have nothing negative to say about any of them. Taking a management position was the best decision I made. I don't plan on retiring until I'm over 65 and by then I get Medicare which is cheaper than what I'm paying now. I actually look forward to reaching 65 to be eligible for it. That will be a like a pay raise. I also have the option to start collecting Social Security before I retire and remain working. I will live off my Social Security and put my salary in savings. Of course dipping in to it for necessary items like a Road Glide. The only reason medical is needed if you retire before Medicare eligible.
I would never recommend a promotion at this day and time with ATT. I have been in management for 24 years. They have taken away everything and once you become a manager expect 1% raises. This is with an awesome appraisal as well. After several years you will be making less than your employees who work under the CWA contract. A large number of my counterparts would take their craft jobs back in a heart beat, me included. The promises that were made when I was promoted were probably true at the time but now they have taken all reasons to be in management. The only reason I am here is to hit my 75 next year (strictly for my pension lump sum increase). That's the only thing keeping me here. I have an awesome team working for me and a great boss, but I am tired of getting screwed by upper management.
You got to be brain dead to make a 1st level job!!
10% above craft pay, long hours, constant scrutiny of your performance leading to mediocre bonus. Little to no power in disciplining recalcitrant employees . Absolutely positively thankless job. To each his own.
$187,200 TSR top 3rd lvl doubtful mid 4th lvl pay
OP is outwardly displaying his cynical attitude, Jealousy, and lack of fortitude!
OP, if you're unfamiliar, you may want to study up on what I'm saying, just trying to help you.
Hey Genius (OP)... I left craft and went into management years ago, I now make 2x group 1 craft. Do the math on increased salary over time, lost benefits when I’m 60 don’t even matter at this point. That silly union mentality got you fooled.
You shouldn't get anything if you aren't working. This isn't socialism.
Geez....OP is sure triggered. Mind your own business- people can make their own life choices without you posting with your exclamation points and hysteria. Get a life.
Respect...yes. At 30 years service???? Tech has to be in management 5 years....to benefit. The NO.1 thing makes folks wonder if they can afford retirement is healthcare costs! Of course there’s no guarantee of future coverage....but when they tell you there DeFINITELY taking them away????? Excuse me ....that was his brain fart. My 1st level told us ALL the time we made more money then him! The number of second levels is shrinking like a sweater dried on high heat. Good luck I’m your next job!! 😜
I chose to take a promotion from an outside technician some time ago to be a 1st line manager knowing I’d pay out of pocket for a portion of monthly medical expenses and be fully responsible for those benefits in retirement. I simply did the math, a 10-15% bump in base salary, then after one year I started receiving very generous bonuses and salary increases as a top performer, I was eventually promoted again to second line title where I continue receiving good pay increases and bonus while working reasonable hours with weekends and holidays off. My non bargained pension has grown considerably more than my union pension. Due to the increased pay and bonus each year I’ve also put more into my 401k & IRA while working Monday-Friday and off work by 5:00 every day. I’ve also developed additional leadership and project management skills making me more marketable for life after T. Bottom line, for me personally it was worth it to take the promotion knowingly giving up subsidized health care in retirement. I also think it’s important to note that no one, union or management has “guaranteed” benefits in retirement. The corporation can choose to cut benefit subsidies, reduce or even freeze future pension or 401k contributions at anytime. I of course understand not all managers have received the same level of pay increases or bonus but that was also my rationale for leaving the union. I simply couldn’t stomach a seniority only based success plan with fixed pay not based on merit. I respect your choice to stay in your union title, you should respect your fellow employees decisions with their career.
Depending on the business unit, moving from occupational to management resulted in a loss of post-retirement health benefits. That was true for me in the late 1990s. (I didn't make the move.) I'd be surprised if there is any movement from occupational to management that doesn't result in an immediate loss of post-retirement benefits.
You do realize that a company doesn’t really owe you medical benefits during retirement right? I understand that was the deal 25 years ago when they provided that. At the same time based on all the moves att has done in past 10 years I don’t see the stopping from taking benefits/pay away to finance failed purchases while execs line their pockets.