AT&T Midwest/Legacy S 2019 3rd Quarter Surplus

Friday, June 14, 2019, AT&T announced a potential 3rd quarter surplus in the Technical Field Services (TFS) Department, Construction & Engineering (C&E) Department and Facility Assignment Records Department.  Also, AT&T announced a General SIPP within the Nationwide Sales and Support Department.  This will affect employees represented by CWA Local 4340 in the Cleveland FAA.

The majority of the employees to be affected by the AT&T announcement have met with management to review SIPP information.

AT&T’s announced surplus affecting CWA Local 4340 members:

• AT&T is eliminating 42 Customer Service Specialist (CSS) positions throughout the Cleveland FAA.
• AT&T is eliminating 3 Design Specialists (DS) positions in Facility Assignment Records in Brecksville, OH.

AT&T’s announced general SIPP affecting CWA Local 4340 members:

• AT&T is also offering a General SIPP for 2 Technical Associate (TA) positions in Nationwide Sales and Support within the Cleveland FAA.

Article 26 of the CWA Midwest contract with AT&T governs all AT&T surplus declarations.  Please contact your Steward or the Union office with questions regarding Article 26.  The Union will continue to release updates as there are updates. 

AT&T Midwest Legacy Bargaining - Letter to Presidents from Linda Hinton, D4 VP

November 5, 2018

TO:  CWA District 4 Local Presidents - AT&T Midwest Bargaining Unit

Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Recently, the leadership of CWA met with the leaders of AT&T for a discussion about the status of the Midwest and Legacy T bargaining. The purpose of the meeting, requested by the CWA, was to go through an overview of our outstanding issues...........

2019 Annual Benefit Enrollment Information

-Employee Annual Benefit Enrollment for 2019 is from October 1 through November 16, 2018.  This timeframe for enrollment is for active and retirees. Upon close of the open enrollment period any changes will only be considered in extenuating circumstances. Information can be reviewed online beginning September 24, 2018.

- The Enrollment Service Center is 1-877-722-0020 to enroll by telephone.

- To enroll from home or a personal mobile device visit www.att.com/benefitscenter.

- To enroll from work log onto the Onestop website, select the AT&T Benefits Center tile and you will be directed to the benefits center website.

- There are no monthly contribution or plan design changes to the AT&T Plans (selfinsured options HCN option 1 and 2, PPO option 1 and 2, Dental PPO and HMO, and Vision Program) for 2019.

- Medical HMO’s (HAP, Blue Care Network, Priority, etc.) are not bargained for and may have changes to monthly contributions and/or plan provisions, review them carefully.

- Review your current coverage and check your network providers to ensure they are in network. (Use the built-in plan decision tool to check providers)

- Under the Affordable Care Act, you can enroll eligible dependents in your medical program and Careplus through the month they reach age 26 (even if they’re not living with you, not a college student, married, etc.).  You can enroll them (if unmarried) in dental and vision through the end of the year they turn 23.

- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) maximum contributions increase for 2019 to $2,650 for health care FSA, and $5,000 for dependent care FSA. 

- Careplus continues to be no cost for 2019; increased coverage for hearing aids from $1,000 to $4,000 (every three years, after base medical plan deductible plan has been met). Vaccines required for international travel are now covered.

- Review and update beneficiary designations, especially if you’ve had a recent life event such as a marriage or divorce. 

- One postcard will be mailed to homes. All other materials (annual enrollment guide, enrollment materials, announcements, reminders, etc.) will be done electronically (Insider, Onestop, ebenefits, SMS Message, etc.).

Flu Vaccines Now Covered Under Rx Benefit, In Addition to Medical

Audience:
Labor Relations:  All Regions

Purpose:
To provide notification of a change to coverage for flu vaccines under the AT&T prescription benefit.

Why/Rationale:
To improve convenience when obtaining a flu vaccine at an in-network retail pharmacy.

Details:
Effective August 16, 2018, all employees with prescription drug coverage administered by CVS/caremark are able to obtain, as part of their prescription drug benefit, a flu vaccine at no charge to the employee from any in-network retail pharmacy, including CVS Pharmacy.

Historically, flu vaccines have been excluded under the pharmacy benefit and, instead, covered exclusively under the medical benefit.  However, CVS retail pharmacists are not currently in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) network of medical providers, and thus, cannot provide flu vaccines under the medical benefit to members with medical coverage administered by BCBSIL.

To improve the experience for all plan participants and facilitate participant access and utilization of flu shots, including those with medical benefits administered by BCBSIL, AT&T is removing the exclusion of flu vaccines under the prescription drug benefit.

Effective August 16, 2018, members with medical benefits administered by BCBSIL may present their prescription drug ID card at any in-network retail pharmacy and obtain a flu vaccine under their prescription drug benefit.  Members with medical benefits administered by UHC, may present either their medical ID card or prescription drug ID card and obtain their flu vaccine.  To minimize the chance for confusion, members should take both their medical and prescription drug ID cards with them when they obtain a flu vaccine from an in-network retail pharmacy.

This change does not impact flu vaccines obtained in a network physician’s office or medical clinic.  These will continue to be covered under the medical benefit.  As flu vaccinations are preventive services, no coverage will be provided for flu vaccines obtained out-of-network.

All CVS/caremark network pharmacists have been notified of this change and have been informed to request the prescription drug ID card from AT&T members.

Action Required:
Informational only.

LeaveLink®: Reporting FMLA Absences in LeaveLink

TO: All US-based AT&T Management and Bargained Employees including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

WHAT: Starting October 1, 2018, the time frame to submit FMLA leave requests in LeaveLink will be extended from 2 business days to 5 calendar days.  As in the past, if not submitted on a timely basis (within 5 calendar days), the request will automatically be denied. 

It is essential that employees submit a leave request through LeaveLink within 5 calendar days of returning to work for an unplanned absence.  Leave requests made beyond the 5-calendar day time period will be considered untimely and will not qualify for FMLA protection absent extenuating circumstances. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This policy change will only be applied to requests for FMLA submitted in LeaveLink after October 1, 2018.  Any FMLA leave requests submitted prior to October 1, 2018 will not be affected. 

ACTION: Informational ONLY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For additional questions related to this change, visit  LeaveLink FMLA on HR OneStop