Open Enrollment Reminders
/Two days after receiving full open enrollment details from Dow Jones, we’re walking back our guidance from the beginning of this month. A little. After testing the “Precision Benefit” decision support tool, we are pleased to report we have been able to receive recommendations to enroll in multiple health insurance options.
This is not intended to be a ringing endorsement of the tool; we still suggest that members review all available information before making a decision on 2025 health care. Also, if you live in a market served by the company’s new Centivo health insurance option, be sure to attend one of the two remaining plan workshops, and check out the pre-recorded video presentation explaining the new plan.
Don’t forget, the deadline to choose 2025 coverage is Nov. 20.
Speaking of deadlines, if you have not yet submitted all receipts toward your annual $700 IAPE Physical Fitness Reimbursement benefit, your deadline to claim 2024 expenses is Nov. 30. Any receipts submitted after Nov. 30 will count toward your 2025 reimbursement limit.
It’s your money! File for it today!
IAPE Needs a new Treasurer – Farewell Austen!
IAPE Treasurer—make that ex-Treasurer—Austen Hufford has left Dow Jones and, after a period of remaining active with IAPE, has now vacated his position on the union’s Board of Directors. Austen sends along this update and farewell message to his fellow members:
Hello, I’m Austen Hufford. I’m a journalist and I’ve served as the treasurer for IAPE 1096 since 2020.
I joined The Wall Street Journal and became an IAPE member in 2015 in New York. I then moved to Chicago to cover U.S. manufacturing, before heading to Washington, D.C. as a national economics reporter.
It’s been a privilege working alongside IAPE President Jodi Green, Executive Director Tim Martell and the dedicated staff and board members at IAPE. The entire organization advocates tirelessly for our fellow Dow Jones colleagues.
As we all know, the media industry faces significant challenges. For Dow Jones to thrive, it must attract, retain and fairly compensate the best talent in the industry. IAPE is here to protect our rights and fight for increased pay and benefits.
Earlier this year, I was laid off along with many of our colleagues in D.C., fellow IAPE members who’ve dedicated decades to Dow Jones. I chose to remain involved with the union after the layoff, to help secure a new contract for all of us.
I have stepped down from my role at IAPE and am taking a break from full-time journalism. I’ll be enrolling in a two-year intensive program at a yeshiva in Jerusalem, focused on Jewish studies. I’m looking forward to immersing myself in Torah study and values that have supported strong families and communities for generations. You’re welcome to follow my journey by subscribing to my newsletter, Yom Yeshiva, at yomyeshiva.substack.com.
This opportunity to further my education is only possible due to the severance and retraining benefits that our union has successfully negotiated with the company over decades. I intend to return to journalism full-time in a few years.
Next Week: IAPE 101
If you were recently hired by Dow Jones, or if you transferred from a non-union position into your current role sometime over the past year, and if you ever wondered where you can go to find out more about this thing called IAPE, we have a suggestion:
Next Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 2:00 p.m. EST, join us for this Zoom presentation and learn more about your union. We’ll cover all the basic questions: what is a union? How did you end up in a union? And most importantly, what are the benefits of being in a union?
If you can stick around beyond the first half-hour, we’ll open the virtual floor for any questions you might have.
IAPE veterans, you’re welcome to join, too.
To register and receive your Zoom invitation, sign up through the IAPE Events page.