MEDCO

District 143 has recently received inquiries from several NWA members regarding the Company’s decision to suspend pass travel privileges when a member does not pay their applicable MEDCO bill.  District 143 President Stephen Gordon contacted NWA Labor Relations, as well as the NWA Benefits department and asked, “How does an unpaid MEDCO bill have anything to do with an employee’s pass-travel?” NWA Labor Relations advised District 143 that NWA puts up a $100 advancement (security deposit?) to MEDCO on behalf of their employees/our members so that everyone can obtain the prescriptions needed for their families without having to pay first before services are rendered.  Therefore, NWA is contending that since the $100 comes from the Company, the Company has the right to suspend pass travel privileges until payment is procured.  Clearly, District 143 does not agree with this for the simple fact that many of our members rely on their pass travel to commute back and forth to work on a weekly basis since many of our members have been displaced from their stations as a direct result of the NWA restructuring.  Furthermore, maybe this is a clear and definitive signal to NWA that our members simply cannot endure the current medical premiums. The implications of unpaid MEDCO premiums affect everyone.  We have been advised that outstanding premiums mean an increase in our annual medical rates due to the fact of a higher liability.