My job just got benefited!

[Laffy Kat]

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.

[badhair77]

1. So happy for you. Thats huge.

[Laffy Kat]

3. Thanks! I kind of knew it was coming up the pike..

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.

[Yonnie3]

2. YES!

So often it goes the other direction.

What will you do with your new found wealth?

[Laffy Kat]

4. I have a son in college. Need I say more?

[Yonnie3]

5. Wooosh, goes the $ ...

[Laffy Kat]

8. True. But I will also be able to donate more (and not feel guilty).

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.

[democrank]

6. Really happy for you.

What a relief this must be.

[Laffy Kat]

15. Thanks, long time coming!

[blm]

7. Happy for you and your co-workers.

Wish this would spread all over.

[Laffy Kat]

9. This is what unions do for people. nt

[kairos12]

10. Congrats Laffy Kat!

[Laffy Kat]

16. Thanks, kairos12.

[blueinredohio]

11. Congrats on the health care. I'm a PROUD union member

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

[Laffy Kat]

17. Thanks. It's an actual HMO that I work for, so that's why we get such good benies!

[beveeheart]

12. Happy for you, LK!

[Laffy Kat]

22. Thanks, beveeheart.

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

[beveeheart]

23. Sundays off? That's great, I always hated

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.

[KT2000]

13. that is great!!

Congrats -

[Laffy Kat]

18. Thanks. I've loved this job since I've had it..

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

[Omaha Steve]

14. K&R!

[Laffy Kat]

19. Thanks, OS!

[BobTheSubgenius]

20. Congratulations!!!

So glad to hear these stories, few though they may be.

[Laffy Kat]

21. Thanks, Bob, TSG! nt

[IronLionZion]

24. Congrats!

[aggiesal]

25. There was a time in this country, when ...

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]

36. I tell people this all the time.

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]

42. I have a friend that just got hired into a union shop ...

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.

[onecent]

26. That is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fla Dem]

27. Good for you!!!! Couple of questions.

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]

37. It's an HMO (the first HMO created) and the employees have always had free insurance.

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!

[MLAA]

28. Huge raise and peace of mind!

[Laffy Kat]

38. Yes. I'm recently divorced and it just really, really helps. nt

[trixie2]

29. Crongrats! Michigan is now a right to work state

I miss my benefits.

[KPN]

30. Great news! Now that's a pay raise!

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]

31. Unions rock!

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!

[louis c]

32. Thank your union

They will really appreciate your positive opinion.

[Oppaloopa]

33. May I ask the name of your union?

[Laffy Kat]

39. It's in the medical industry, SEIU. nt

[tavernier]

34. Woo Hoo!

I’ll lift a glass to you tonight! I love happy news!

[Laffy Kat]

40. Thanks, tavernier.

[calimary]

35. That's TERRIFIC!

SO glad to hear this! I'm a big believer in unions.

[Laffy Kat]

41. Meeeeee toooo.

You have to take the good with the bad but it's so worth it.