Update--January 16, 2014--IUE-CWA Retired Members Chapter (RMC)--81359
An Informational Note to Momentive Retirees: Ceridian, the Company that handles the billing (Monthly Premium) for your Health Care Costs has had some kind of problem (crash) on their website, and this has delayed the sending of the new Monthly Premium amounts you have to pay, out to you. Many have questioned why they haven’t received their notices (home mailings) yet? This is the reason I was given.
Secondly….be sure to check your base pay amount, that is used to determine your Healthcare Benefit Monthly Premium…it should NOT include your 2012 NLRB Settlement Monies (ONLY you base salary). A number of retirees caught this, and shared it with us; we are passing that information on to you. Call HR Connect, at 1-877-888-7599, if you have questions about your monthly Healthcare Premium Amounts.
January 16th, 2014 – Recruitment Drive of IUE-CWA Retired Members Chapter (RMC)-81359
Sorry, this is a little long…but we are trying to keep you informed—please read.
Hi everybody…well, it’s finally here…2014. The weather has been brutal between extreme cold, and snow, so far. The Holidays are over, and it’s time to start trying to get this Local Retiree Chapter going. Our Chapters official name is IUE-CWA Retired Members Chapter (RMC)—81359. Our Chapter Charter is approved, the Local Chapter By-Laws have been drafted (have to be approved by Membership), and the Executive Board “Elect” is in place. We started this process to form this Local Chapter last March—2013. It has been a slow process, at times, due to bureaucratic requirements, and other tasks that needed to be accomplished.
Recruitment:
Initially, we tried to reach out to all retirees via the pre-summer letter to retirees about the summer Local 81359 Union Picnic; we had a letter attached about forming the Local Retired Members Chapter. The response, at best, was dismal. We found, generally…that most GE Retirees had NO interest in joining a Local Chapter that was concerned with Pension and/or Benefits associated with Corporate Momentive (the IUE-CWA and Momentive Contract). They were former GE employees, and now GE Retirees, and many felt they were set, as far as Pension and Benefits, when it came to GE. Many are older retirees, some have health issues, and a some have moved away also. Just to let you know some numbers, there are approximately 390-400 Retirees between GE & Momentive. Of that number, about 135 are just Momentive retirees.
So, we as a Board decided to try to recruit Momentive Retirees. One of our tasks was the dividing up of the Retiree List, and trying to get Retirees to join our Local RMC (Retired Members Chapter). Trying to capture correct names, addresses, phone numbers and/or emails was a task in itself. After compiling the most accurate list we could, the 5 Executive Board Members tried to reach out to these Retirees via telephone. We left many messages, asking for a return call, and we tried as best we could to initially, and as part of our follow-up, to email Momentive Retirees; we included as much information as we could about the Local Chapter and its purpose. It was time consuming, and we finished our initial recruitment drive at the end of 2013. To date, we have about 30-35 retirees that said they were interested and/or are pending; pending meaning they would join the CWA Retirees Council (a $25.00—one time, lifetime fee), which is a prerequisite to joining the IUE-CWA RMC—81359. We are still trying to reach out to Momentive Retirees to get closure on their interest.
I have to be honest with you….there is a lot of APATHY & CYNICISM out there—about what the Local Union and/or any Local Retiree Chapter can do for any of you regarding Pension and/or Healthcare Benefits. I will address that a little later in this letter.
Proposals to Union: The Following Proposals were Presented to Local 81359 at the December 6, 2013 Union Meeting—
- Local 81359 approve the establishment of a Local 81359 Retired Members Chapter for it’s Local (Done—application was approved by CWA)
- Local 81359 approve the expenses of cost of mailing to all retirees to join the Local 81359 Retired Members Chapter. (Done—original home mailing for the RMC was included in the home mailing for the Union’s summer picnic.)
- Local 81359 approve the RMC’s By-Laws, and include them in the Local’s By-Laws as an addendum.
- Local 81359 provide CWA Retired Member Council fee as part of the “Retirement gift”—it is a one-time, lifetime fee of $25.00; paid to CWA, not IUE. Very important to our recruitment, and the possibility of future members of the Retired Members Chapter.
- Local 81359 approve a $1000 “seed-money” stipend/donation to help the IUE-CWA RMC-81359 with it’s initial start-up costs (i.e.— for home mailing expenses; bonding expense; membership meeting expenses—rental/food; printing copying expenses; expenses for application/joining fees to other organizations—such as the Alliance for Retired Americans; expenses of the Local 81359 Retired Members Chapter President to attend function/events of the CWA Retired Members Council, the NYS Alliance for Retired Americans and the Capital District Alliance for Retired Americans; etc.).
- Local 81359 approve the seating of the Local 81359 Retired Members Chapter President on the Executive Board as a NON-voting member.
The Local 81359 Executive Board said they would discuss these proposals, and get back to us. Regardless, I will follow-up with the Board and the Membership at the February 7, 2014 Union Meeting. Note: We are a separate entity, with a separate Charter with CWA; we are affiliated with, but not governed by Local 81359. Mutual cooperation and support of each other is vital to the success of ALL our future endeavors, issues and concerns. We need to stand together as One Voice! Together—We Are the Union Voice to Protect and Maintain long, hard-fought-for, Benefits—Healthcare & Pensions.
What are You (the Local81359 RMC) or Can You Do for Us?
The one thing, I can share that has been, and already is happening, is this—the sharing and dissemination of information—whether it be the Ceridian info above, or the base salary info above, information we disseminated about the GE & Momentive Healthcare Benefits, the Retiree Healthcare Webinars (by phone and/or Internet) we pushed for, etc. This is great information retirees have already shared with each other, to help keep retirees informed, and we aren’t even officially kicked off yet as far as the General Membership Meetings piece. I, personally, think that is phenomenal! Our plans, for future Membership Meetings, are to have seminars/workshops on subjects/issues such as Social Security; Medicare; Asset Management (Financials—401K Disbursement); Trusts/Living Wills, Resources—AARP, Alliance for Retired Americans, other great Internet resources; Discount Programs for Retirees (travel, vacation, consumer buying, etc.); contractual concerns/issues regarding Retiree Benefits in the future (contract proposals); etc.
I want to say something to the GE Retirees. This Local RMC is open to, and always will be, open to all GE & Momentive retirees. This year, for some reason…contrary to the Sale (of Waterford GE), Successor Clause and Transfer of Employees Language (2006-2007), GE made available the option of rejoining their HealthCare Plan for Retirees? They have made changes to the GE Healthcare Benefits, and have passed on the increases to you. They have pointedly stated, they are NOT sure about Retiree Healthcare beyond 2014. We, the IUE-CWA RMC-81359…shared this information with as many as we could. Who will be your voice, should this happen; who will advocate on your behalf? We hope you will add you VOICE to our concerns and come join us.
Let me remind you…there was a veiled threat to eliminate Retiree Healthcare by both GE and Momentive is the last correspondence. They have “suggested” that you check out the Healthcare Market Exchanges in your States. They have guaranteed to cover you for 2014, but have implied there may not be coverage beyond 2014. Do you remember seeing those reference’s in the literature sent to your homes? I believe they are waiting to see how this whole Obamacare/Healthcare thing shakes out; and Now, we are seeing what Corporations/Businesses are doing. Have you been watching the news, and reading the newspapers---MANY people (and retirees) have been dropped from their Corporate Programs because the Corporate Plans don’t match the requirements of the new Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) regulations? Of course, the excuse is…it would cost Corporations just way-to-much to expand their Healthcare Programs, and they would have to pass on these costs to employees and retirees. They say they don’t want to do that; so go check out the Healthcare Market Exchanges. Have you heard that?
So again…we are asking you to add your voice to ours, and join us. Here is the information once again—to join the CWA Retiree Council ß Click here. If you want information regarding the CWA Retiree Council….go here à CWA Retired Members Council Website. Once a Member of the CWA Retiree Council, you are automatically a Member of the IUE-CWA Retired Members Chapter (RMC)—81359. To add your name to the Local Chapter, and to become involved—contact one of the following Board Members-- John Phelps—President—235-5068, or email— jphelps3@nycap.rr.com ; or Jim Brown—Vice-President—429-8913, or email— bowler814t@aol.com ; Cliff Hickok—Secretary-Treasurer – 885-7731, or email— cakehunt@aol.com ; Dave Whalen—Board Member—584—7738, or email— dwwhalen600@live.com ; Greg Miller—Board Member—664-7478, or email— chiefl359@gmail.com ; Nick Rinaldi—Board Member—664-5396, or email— arinaldi99@aol.com.
General Membership Meeting:
We hope to have a General Membership Meeting soon. We need to hear back from the Local 81359 Executive Board, and we need to have another meeting of the IUE-CWA RMC-81359 Executive Board. We will notify you as soon as possible. In the meantime, PLEASE join the CWA Retiree Council, and let us know your status about joining our Local Retired Members Chapter. Thank you.
John M Phelps
President
IUE-CWA Retired Members Chapter--81359
12 Maple Lane
Melrose, NY 12121
Home Phone—518-235-5068
Cell Phone—518-409-0441
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