AFA US Airways MEC E-Line - "Staying Informed"

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2002 Archived - E-Lines

• Notice: Requirements for Retirement
• Accessing The Hub
• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

Please be advised that the company is changing its policy regarding the notice requirements for retirement. Starting with retirements after July 1, 2005, an employee will need to give at least 30 days advance notice of his/her intent to retire. This was reduced from 60 days notice. Also, in order to rescind a retirement request an employee will have to advise his/her supervisor/manager no less than 15 days prior to the effective date of the retirement. This was reduced from 30 days. There are some exceptions to the notification periods and they are outlined below. This information can also be found on theHub at: http://thehub.usairways.com/benefits/retirement/rev_notification_timing.htm.

Please also note that the notification for rescinding retirement with the PBGC is different and they have their own policies. The current notification to retire with the PBGC is 90 days, and to rescind is 30 days preferably or no later than the day before the first check is cut.

The company and AFA have developed a retirement booklet that will be printed and sent to you as soon as the company reviews the draft and approves this booklet.

Teddy
MEC President

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Notice: Requirements for Retirement

In an effort to improve the administration of retirement benefits and the staffing of vacancies created by retirements, US Airways has created a new policy regarding the notice requirements for retirement. Note that we have also included general information about applying for pension benefits from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), as all defined benefit pension plans of US Airways are now under PBGC control.

Retirements After July 1, 2005

Notification Periods:
For all retirements after July 1, 2005, the employee must provide the US Airways BenefitCenter, and his/her manager, with at least 30 days advance notice of his/her intent to retire. To rescind a request to retire, the employee must notify the US Airways BenefitCenter and his/her manager no less than 15 days prior to the effective date of his/her retirement.

Exceptions to Notification Periods:
Exceptions to the notification periods outlined above will only be considered in situations where other employment is involved and for no other reason as follows: 

If an employee is offered other employment and the circumstances do not allow for a 30 day notification to US Airways of the employee's intent to retire, the employee must present to his/her manager, a letter on the hiring company's letterhead that includes all of the following items (an "Offer Letter"):

• An offer of employment
• Effective date of new employment

The Company will grant an exception to the notification requirement only where the date of the Offer Letter and the effective date of new employment are less than 30 days apart, preventing the employee from giving the required notice to US Airways. 

Note: Exceptions to the notification requirement will not be considered with less than 10 days notice to the Company of the employee's intended retirement date unless approved by the employee's Departmental Vice President on a case-by-case basis where extenuating circumstances further delayed the notice from the employee's prospective employer. Additionally, providing less than a 30 day notice to retire may further delay the commencement of retiree benefits. 

The only circumstance in which the Company will consider a request to rescind with less than the required 15-day rescind notice, will be if the employee's prospective employer formally withdraws an offer of employment within the 15-day period immediately preceding the employee's proposed retirement date. The employee must present to his/her manager with a dated letter from the prospective employer (on the prospective employer's letterhead) stating that the offer is rescinded and the reason(s) for such rescission. Employees rescinding their retirement less than 15 days prior to their intended retirement date are not guaranteed to remain in their current work assignment and may be assigned a new work assignment based on Company needs. 

Requests to rescind retirement, which are received after the effective date of retirement, will not be granted.

PBGC Notification
Separately, you must notify the PBGC to initiate pension payments if you are a participant of a terminated defined benefit pension plan being trusteed by the PBGC. The PBGC's general policy is to treat the effective date of your retirement as the first of the month following the month in which they receive your completed retirement application. The PBGC generally requires that you provide them with a rescind notification no later than the day before the date of the first retirement check they send you. PBGC policies may change from time to time, so you should contact the PBGC directly to confirm their current policy regarding retirement applications.

Last Day of Work Before Retirement
Regardless of the time period in which an employee retirees, employees may elect their retirement date from the Company to be any day in a month, as long as they have complied with the applicable notice provision. However, employees will be required to work through the day prior to the actual retirement date selected, e.g., if the employee decides to retire from the Company effective July 19, his/her last work day will be July 18.

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 724-695-3329
Council 41 DCA 703-690-6859
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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