Labor & Employment Law

Airline Pilot Finds Out the Benefits of Union Membership

By admin

Jennifer Wright Dorr at Union Plus sends us the following.

Driving home late one night from one of his three jobs, Jack Burnett?a member of Air Line Pilots Local 175?was looking forward to climbing into his bed for a night?s rest before the start of another long workday.  But Burnett never made it home that night. He wound up in a hospital bed for three weeks while he recovered from a litany of injuries caused by a drunk driver.

The accident on that June night broke more than 18 bones and shattered his finances, but it also solidified his belief in being a union member. Says Burnett:

I was surprised to learn that Union Plus offered grants to help cover hospital bills. Being eligible to receive a grant helped me out a lot during a tough time. Having the union help me in a time of need has made me really appreciate being a part of a union. 

During his time of greatest need, Burnett?a Union Plus Credit Card holder?discovered that he qualified for $2,450 in grants from Union Plus. These grants are part of the Union SAFE program from Union Plus, which helps union members deal with a lagging U.S. economy.

At the time of the accident, the ExpressJet pilot had coped with supporting his wife and 9-year-old son during a two-year work furlough by taking on three jobs. An accident that carried with it a large hospital bill was the last thing he needed. Fortunately, Burnett is receiving support from his family, friends and his close-knit community in Tulsa, Okla. 

Says Burnett:

I am grateful that the union understands the toll medical bills can have on a family and that there are Union Plus benefits that address this issue.

Union members may visit UnionPlus.org/UnionSAFE for more information on layoff, disability and education grants available to Union Plus program participants. Even if you do not participate in a Union Plus program, help is still available through a variety of health-related programs, including free medical bill negotiating, health club discounts and a health savings program to cut out-of-pocket medical costs.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on December 27, 2010 (boomark / email).