Tomorrow: Join us for Bargaining

IAPE and Dow Jones contract committees will return to the virtual bargaining table tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. EST, and IAPE members are cordially invited to join the session as observers.

Management is expected to respond to the union’s latest proposal on health insurance costs.

Members must register to attend. If you’re available to observe tomorrow’s meeting, see your email for a sign-up link.

Open Enrollment, and a Dependent Care Change?
Even though a small number of IAPE members have reported having better results this year using “pilot,” the company’s virtual health care coverage assistant, the union’s caution about relying on that tool to choose your 2024 benefits package remains. Between now and Nov. 16, when open enrollment ends for U.S. employees, please take time to review available benefits material and make an informed choice for your health coverage.

Members are also reminded they must actively elect Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts, as 2023 elections in these plans will not roll over to 2024.

Speaking of Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, members have reported to the union an inability to allot more than $2,500 to accounts for 2024. The reason: the company has arbitrarily reduced the limit from $5,000 in 2023 to $2,500 for next year, because they continuously fail non-discrimination testing. (The IRS requires that benefits and contributions available to eligible employees under the DCFSA do not favor highly compensated employees.)

The Benefits Department reports that this information was included in notices mailed to employees’ homes, even though the company’s benefits information website states (as of 1:00 p.m. today) participants can set aside up to $5,000 for dependent care.

The company also failed to notify IAPE of this change. The union plans to investigate.