Hey,
I have 15 years of service as a CST, I was offered a LM position in NJ, I’m just not sure if I should accept the offer. I am 40 years old, I’m still healthy and very active, so my body can probably handle another 15 years. I guess I’m just not sure about freezing my pension. I welcome all thoughts and opinions, thanks.
What a waste of 30 years...
I spent 30 years in craft. I was asked several times to become a manager and thank god I declined .Many of the people I started with became managers and I can honestly say I don't know one of them who didnt't regret the move. Its a thankless job stay put.
Oh, thanks for posting here below Hans. Merry Christmas to you!
If you are asking, obviously ambition and hard work is not for you. Just stick with the union job where you do the bare minimum in exchange for your entitled handout. Nothing shows the demise of the USA more than organized "labor".
Just don’t do it. Stick with the devil you know.
Sorry its Gov Murphy now! It between drinks from his pocket flask he's making decisions like all restaurants at 25% indoor capacity while small phone stores deemed essential these are at 100% + capacity everyday. Hes such a smart guy in the pocket of the telecommunications industry!
The only way I would consider a management job, would be if I was already retired from craft, and at that point, I will probably be happier just staying retired.
Retiree medical for a former manager s—s and is expensive. If you can control your MAGI, you can go on the Health Exchanges and save a lot of money for superior coverage. After the 60 weeks of paid medical, that's what I did for 2020, and will do again for 2021. It is actually gone down by $200 a year for 2021.
LM are a dime a dozen and are glorified babysitting jobs.
you like your phone ringing every minute with techs scamming something , calling out sick and then the BS politics with higher level management?
stay a CST !!
I was in the same situation 15 years ago. I almost did the switch from associate to management. 15 Years later, I am glad I didn’t and planning to retire soon with a pension 401k and medical. 4 of my coworkers who are also good friends did make the switch about 15 years ago. While one did move from 1st level to 2nd level the other 3 was laid off or Riffed less than 10 years later.
Cost of living in NJ will offset any gains in pay increase. Stay put!
Union 1997 until 2004. Took management and smartly lost my pension. Ended up in a job that I work from home for the last 8 years (while my kids were still in school) and has been all around perfect for all that. Higher income has allowed me to pay off my house and am currently debt free and put about 11% into 401k and save about $2500 a month outside of 401k. This all sounds good. But I only am saving like this due to the high cost of insurance I see coming. Planning ahead.
My opinion? Pay off debt, save and stay in the union if you have a pension that includes medical bennies.
I can't speak to the medical coverage for a union employee, but for retired (VSP) management it's expensive. My retired medical was frozen at 68% subsidy at 2008 rates and the EPN cost in 2021 is $17,000+ to cover me and my wife. Fortunately my wife's plan which is similar but not exact cost about $10,000 for 2021.
The management STI Short Term Incentive bonus is nice on paper, but is impacted by your performance rating, your local management policies/politics, and the company results factor.
Good luck.
Freezing your pension is only part of it...
The "Retiree" Medical beni's are an even bigger consideration.
Unless you don't mind getting spanked with a $16-30K/yr med bill.
Or you actually think those recently elected, will really enact any type of med-for-all that won't end up costing even more. You know... since Obamacare did such a fine job lowering costs last time around. Remember Verizon as a big "self-insured" company was largely isolated from most of the Obamacare Ins cost increases the rest of the country saw... however they did pass those increases on to the management "Retiree's... As they consider them to be in a separate "high risk pool". That figure you see on your W2 each year for Insurance Cost... that for an active employee... Retiree base cost is more than DOUBLE... before they subtract any % reduction you may have earned... by having "15yrs of service prior to 2006" when Management Medical Beni was also frozen.(not just the pension)
I jumped to management side of the house about 18yrs b4 retiring & never looked back... but I would never have done it AFTER 2006. The Union retiree medical package is nothing to sneeze at. $0.02
I would not transfer. Why work for a living?
Don't do it!
You won't make it another 15 years if you take the LM job. Stay where you are and enjoy your benefits.
CST (cable splicing technician)
LM (Local manager)
what is a CST? what is a LM?
I agree, why freeze your pension? Why give up money? You will probably do better in a craft positive, with less stress. Just my 32 years in craft opinion.
Stay put, keep your pension, otherwise next on RIF list.