June21, 2007

Can a Laid off Employee Elect To Retire? - 

Local 1145 participants on layoff may start their benefit immediately - assuming they are retirement eligible, and they still have recall rights.  If they elect to defer payment,  they will continue to accrue CS for up to 5 years, although there is no cap on VS accruals.  Also, members of this union may start retiree medical benefits while on layoff with no negative effect on their service accrual.  

Health Care - 

Any Local 1145 member who retires prior to 5-1-07 will be covered under the healthcare provisions of the prior Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Effective 5-1-07 the healthcare plan will change to the 90/10 plan recently negotiated for all actives and future retirees.

It is my understanding that members on leave are treated as actives and will be subject to the same plan provisions after 5-1-07 (90/10 and increased Rx co-pays) as other actively employed members.  In addition they should pay the recently negotiated contributions for healthcare as well.

We are working on an FAQ about the new healthcare changes and I will include this question in the document.  We anticipate that the document will be distributed this week.

Eric Warren

Frozen Retiree Life Insurance - If you were a participant in the former Travelers Dependent and Supplemental Life Insurance Plan (G-642791A) at Honeywell as of April 30, 1994, you are eligible for a frozen life insurance benefit that goes into effect when you retire. There is no cost to you for this Frozen Retiree Life Insurance.

The Union leadership has insisted that Honeywell contact everyone who has retiree life coverage. The list is approximately 1600 names long. Soon a letter will be sent to each employee on the list verifying their participation in the program. The list includes current employees, retirees, and some people who have passed on. If you receive this letter save it and inform your beneficiaries of the policy so they can activate it when you pass on.

 The insurance coverage is calculated using your pay and years of participation in the Supplemental Life Insurance Plan as of April 30, 1994. The formula is 1.5 x your Annual Base Pay (frozen as of April 30, 1994) x years of participation to a maximum of 30 years (frozen as of April 30, 1994) x .01, to a maximum of $15,000.

 Here is an example:

If your base pay as of April 30, 1994, was $30,000 per year and you had been a participant in Supplemental Life for 20 years as of April 30, 1994, your Frozen Retiree Life coverage would be calculated like this:

1.5 x $30,000 = $45,000 x 20 years = 900000 x .01 = $9,000

 Your Frozen Retiree Life benefit in this example is $9,000 payable to your beneficiary at your death.

 Frozen Retiree Life coverage is available only when you retire from Honeywell. No death benefit is payable prior to retirement.

If you terminate your employment prior to retirement, you will not receive this benefit, even if you are eligible for a benefit at the time you terminate your employment.

 If you have questions about this policy contact the union hall and talk to an officer.

A New Benefit - As part of the move by unions to offer more services to their members the IBT has created a new website that lets you plan your vacation. It's called teamstervacations.com. You choose the city or country and the website will list options for airplane flights, car rentals, hotels, tours, cruises, etc. You can go online and check availability, schedules and prices.

Check it out when you plan your next vacation.

Ways to Work - There are several programs available throughout the metro area that help people who need reliable transportation to and from work. These United Way programs offer loans for new vehicles (up to $4k), or repairs on existing vehicles (up to $750), or auto lease programs. If you want more information on these Ways to Work programs call the Teamsters Service Bureau at 612-676-3700 or 1-800-979-9725.

Employee Free Choice Act - More U.S. working people than ever—some 57 million—say they would join a union if they had a chance, according to a survey from Peter D. Hart Research Associates. But most employers infringe on workers' freedom to form unions, routinely using legal and illegal tactics to thwart the law. They often harass, intimidate and coerce workers who try to exercise their legal right to form a union.

Unfortunately, most people don't know this is happening.

 On April 19, a bipartisan coalition reintroduced into Congress the historic Employee Free Choice Act (S. 842 and H.R. 1696). The act would strengthen protections for workers’ freedom to choose by requiring employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing union representation. It also would provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes and authorize stronger penalties for violation of the law when workers seek to form a union.

 Call or write or e-mail your Congress person and Senators about this important legislation.

Repeat - Withdrawal Card Reminder - If you are out of work for any reason, i.e. you are laid off, retire, on Weekly Indemnity, medical leave, education leave, personal leave, etc. call Jane at 651-917-7680. Jane will instruct you on how to get a withdrawal card if you need one.

______________________________________________________________

The next Union Meeting will be: 

          Thursday  July 12,  2007

(1st & 3rd shift) 5:00 PM

(Second Shift)  12:30 PM

 Check out the Local 1145 web page at http://www.teamsterslocal1145.org