Dear Members,
- DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN AND THE US AIRWAYS
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
- INSURANCE CARDS
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Accessing The Hub
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AFA Local Numbers
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN AND THE US AIRWAYS
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
Below are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding the new Employee
Savings Plan.
Q- When I log on to my NetBenfits account I
see all of the funds in my account listed under the US Airways Defined
Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP)-what happened to my 401 (k)?
A- Your 401 (k) is still there. The Company merged all of the retirement plans
and programs into the US Airways Employee Savings Plan. This is a name change
only.
Q- Why is the plan name listed as the US
Airways Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) and not the Employee
Savings Plan?
A- The US Airways Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) has been in
existence for years. It was comprised of the Employee Savings Plan and the
Employee Pension Plan. When the various retirement plans were recently merged,
the Company sent out information referring to all the plans being consolidated
into the US Airways Employee Savings Plan. Fidelity never changed the name of
the DCRP and therefore your account still is listed under the DCRP. The Company
is working with Fidelity to change the name to avoid any confusion.
Q- How can I tell where my money is?
A- When you log on to the Fidelity NetBenefits page and click on the US Airways
Defined Contribution Retirement Program you will be directed to a "Summary" page
that details your account balance. At the top of the "Summary" page the account
will be listed as "Employee Savings". On the "Summary" page you will also see a
tab called "Sources". Clicking on the "Sources" tab will reveal where your money
is- in this case your 401 (k) plan.
Q- What about the 3% Defined Contribution
the Company is going to begin contributing to Flight Attendants in January of
2008?
A- The Company will begin contributing an amount equivalent to 3% of your
earnings (generally defined as w-2 income) within 10 days after each pay date
beginning with the January 15, 2008 paycheck. This Defined Contribution (DC)
will be paid to each vested Flight Attendant (all Flight Attendants on the
System Seniority List as of January 10, 2005 are 100% vested) in the plan
regardless of their participation in the 401(k) savings plan. If you are
currently a 401(k) participant the 3% contribution will be invested in the same
funds/investment vehicles your 401(k) contributions are invested in. If you are
not a 401(k) participant the 3% contribution will be invested in the default
investment vehicles unless you elect different funds. The ability to direct the
3% DC funds will be expanded after the funds begin to be disbursed. The 3% will
appear as an additional source when you click on the "Source" tab in NetBenefits.
Q- Are the funds in the US Airways Savings
Plan (both the 401 (k) and the DC funds) protected in the event the Company
enters bankruptcy, merges with another airline or liquidates?
A-The Employee Savings Plan is just the name of the Plan. It is intended that
the Plan qualify as a profit sharing plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, and
includes a cash or deferred arrangement that is intended to qualify under
Section 401(k) of the Code. Unlike our former Defined Benefit Plan which was
terminated and turned over to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC),
this type of plan is in fact protected from creditors. The only reasons why the
Company would access funds already deposited would be for the following reasons:
- An adjustment has to be made to the
account to back out money that should not be in the plan.
- Employee contributions were made to the
plan and the participant terminates employment. The contributions that were
made to the plan, but were not vested would be forfeited.
- Refunds need to be made due to
non-discrimination test results (rarely used IRS requirements).
Q- What about the profit sharing that is
provided for in our contract?
A-The term "profit sharing" in the above answer refers to an IRS Tax Status of
the Plan. The Profit Sharing Plan in the Flight Attendant Collective Bargaining
Agreement is still in place. This Employee Savings Plan has no bearing on the
profit sharing check you will receive in March of each year as long as the
airline continues to make a profit and we are working under the Contracted dated
January 10, 2005.
Q-Is the US Airways Savings Plan Company controlled? My 401(k) is not.
A-The US Airways Employee Savings Plan is not Company controlled. For an
investment standpoint, the employer contributions made on behalf of the
participant are self directed. The means that the participant has the ability to
decide where they want these contributions to be invested based on the
investment options offered. Maybe someone considers the 3% contribution to be
Company controlled. The 3% Company contribution was negotiated and agreed to by
the Company and the Association of Flight Attendants and ratified by the
membership. The only way this percentage will change is if the Company and the
Association negotiates a different rate.
Q-Can I roll my entire 401(k) into my IRA?
A-The only way participant can currently roll their plan into an IRA is if they
have separated from the Company.
Q-Can I roll any of my 401(k) into my IRA?
A-After age 59 ½ there is a withdrawal program that is allowed under IRS
guidelines. There are guidelines on the number and amount you can withdraw at
any one period. Please check with you financial advisor if you wish to do this.
INSURANCE CARDS
By now all Flight Attendants should have
received your new Caremark prescription cards as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cards if you switched from United Health Care. If you have not received cards
please contact the Benefits Center at 1-888-860-6178 to make sure they have your
correct address. For cards, please contact Caremark directly at 1-800-898-5698.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield may be contacted at 1-888-722-7441.
Should you have further questions, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Paul H. Frishkorn, AFA MEC Benefits
Chairperson
pfrishkorn@afausairways.org
610-544-2875
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AFA USAirways Website
www.afausairways.org
Accessing The Hub:
http://thehub.usairways.com
Logging in the first time your user name is u0(zero) and your five digit
employee number. Your initial password is the first five digits of your social
security number. Questions about the Hub? Please contact the EDS Help Desk at
336-744-6000 for assistance. More information can also be found HERE.
AFA Local Numbers
Council 40 PIT 412-245-1214
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325
New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780
Reply to Inflight: askinflight@usairways.com
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