Ailing flight attendant fired from United Airlines

08:43 AM PDT on Thursday, April 19, 2007

By LINDA BRILL / KING 5 News



INDIANOLA, Wash. – The friendly skies are not so friendly to Jo Reinhardt.


KING

Jo Reinhardt joined United Airlines 21 years ago.
The Kitsap County flight attendant who is suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease has been fired by United Airlines.

Now she loses her medical insurance and her dignity.

The flight attendant says she dedicated her life to United Airlines. She and other flight attendants gave up 40 percent of their salaries and benefits to help the company out of bankruptcy four years ago, and now, in the end she says, the airline let her down.


Jo is paralyzed from the neck down. But Jo says the true pain came Tuesday when United Airlines called to fire her.

"I felt that I was better off dead than to receive this kind of news," she said.

Jo earned her wings and took flight with United Airlines 21 years ago, but now she feels betrayed.

"I spent half my life believing in this company," she said. "By their doing this to me, it has crushed my spirit – totally crushed."

Jo has been on disability leave from the company for three years – the maximum time allowed under her contract. But the contract also allows the company to find a solution, such as another position or a leave of absence.

Without that she loses her company health insurance.

Jo and her husband Rodger have already spent $200,000 on medical bills.

No insurance will likely cost them their home.

"The monthly costs, one prescription alone is over $1,000," he said.

A United Airlines spokesman says in an e-mail: "We have deep sympathy for Jo's situation, and we hope to work with her and her family to identify resources to help her through this difficult time."

The Reinhardts had hoped for some compassion in return for loyalty and flight attendants giving up 40 percent of their salary and benefits four years ago to help the company through bankruptcy.

Representatives from the Flight Attendants' Union are in Chicago now to meet with United Airlines executives. The union rep said they are shocked and outraged that the airline has failed to accommodate Reinhardt.

The Reinhardts may get a Cobra insurance plan for a year. But, they say, it does not equal their company benefits.
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