December UE 506 News
Unemployment Compensation UPDATE
Our prolonged attempt to secure lost Pa State Unemployment Compensations Benefits for members has come to some finality, at least where the State is concerned.
As a matter of review, over 40 of our members lost either UC benefits or credit for their waiting weeks at about the time or shortly after the UC Service Center changed from a "walk in" to a "call in" operation. Information on filing for benefits under the new system was non existent. Dave Kitchen and myself appealed the majority of the claims but met with limited success. We advanced several of the appeals to the Harrisburg Board of Review but the claims were denied there as well.
Not wanting to capitulate after the appeal decisions, we attempted to resolve the matter through some of our State Legislators. That route also failed. Frustrated we found out that Alan K Williamson (Pa UC Program Director) was coming into town on September 14th for the Call Center ribbon cutting ceremony. Dave and I attended that function and took the opportunity to talk with Mr. Williamson and to hand him a letter that described the problem and listed the names of 506 members who were denied benefits. After listening to us, Mr. Williamson agreed to review all of the cases and return to Erie to review his findings with us.
On November 3rd Mr. Williamson did return but only to dash our hopes for a resolve. He confirmed the obvious, that the claimants were denied for not properly following he explained there was nothing he could do. All was not lost though, as a result of our efforts, the State has been prompted to take measures to prevent further problems. They are:
1. The State will rewrite the UC Handbook so that it is better understood. Before the new handbook is distributed, Mr. Williamson will have the Local 506 Officers review it to see if it meets our criteria.
By Mark PiersonThe computerized call tracking system will be used to support some of the disputed claims.
More State workers will be available to handle peak times and, for now, they have extended their hours to 7p.m.
Further the State will implement a plan where claimants will be able to file for benefits via their home computers. This change will take affect late next in 2001.
SPORTS COMMITTEE REPORT
On Sunday, November 19, 2000, the Sports Committee held its second annual Thanksgiving Volleyball Tournament and it was our most successful and competitive tournament ever with both divisions’ final results uncertain until the completion of the final games.
In the Recreational Division, the Palm Beach Canvassing Board was called in to count the scores and announce that Dan Postlewaite’s "STUFFERS" edged out Bob McGarry’s "TURKEY GIZZARDS" for the winners of the State of Florida and Recreation Division for the second time in a year.
In the fierce "Spike it in your face" Intermediate Division it took a certified count by illustrious President David E. Adams to declare by Florida Supreme Court decree that Nancy Morrison’s "HOBGOBBLERS" squeaked by Chuck Michaelson’s "HOLIDAY HAMS" and were the official winners of the State of Florida and the Intermediate Division.
Tournament directors Roger P. Zaczyk and Matthew McCracken would like to thank all those who participated in and helped run the Tournament. We hope to see you in March for the Saint Patrick’s Day Volleyball Tournament.
SERO "WINDOW" WRAP UP
To the dismay of some, November 1st saw the close of yet another SERO "Window." Fortunately though, for a number of other Local 506 Members, November 1st marked the beginning of their early retirements.
132 members of our Local were able to SERO out on October 1st or November 1st making their numbers the highest level yet reached through any Special Window Early Retirement Option. In fact, compared to 1997, almost twice as many Erie applicants retired this year.
Under the terms of the 2000-2003 Contract, the 850 hourly GE workers holding the greatest Pension Benefit Service (PBS) nationally were allowed to "SERO OUT." In the end, the number of PBS years needed to go out through the "Window" was 33.216 years.
Looking at a total of 138 workers retiring out of Erie (6 were from other unions in the Plant), we were the second largest numbers of recipient of SEROs in the country, second only to the Louisville Appliance Park location that received 146. Power Systems in Schenectady, NY came in third with79 SEROs and the Lynn; Ma Aircraft Engine Plant ended up with a total of 60.
The recently concluded SERO Window was distinctly different from any
previous format in that it expanded the replacement pool needed to fulfill
each retirement by including all upgrades and new hires, not just those laid
off or former GE workers. Now that the Window has closed, any other
considerations for early retirements during the Contract will be contingent on
Plant layoffs, which none of want to see but may act as a safety net for the
workers hired over the last few months.
2001 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE APPROVED
The following holiday schedule was approved by the membership at the November 15, 2000 membership meetings.
January 1 New Year’s Day
January 15 Martin Luther King Day
April 13 Good Friday
May 28 Memorial Day
July 4 Independence Day
September 3 Labor Day
November 22 Thanksgiving Day
November 23 Friday after Thanksgiving Day
December 24 Day before Christmas Day
December 25 Christmas Day
*Floating Holiday
*Requires management approval and one week’s notice. Must be used for Monday following Thanksgiving (November 26) if going to be absent that day. If floating holiday has already been used and an unpaid absence occurs on November 26, holiday pay for November 23 may be denied. The floating Holiday must be used in lieu of unpaid absence following the exhaustion of Vacation and Sick & Personal Pay. Holiday will be granted in the order in which employees request it, not to exceed 10% of the work group.
COLA INCREASE EFFECTIVE CHRISTMAS DAY
Local 506 Members will receive an $.08 per hour cost of living adjustment beginning December 25, 2000. This increase is based on a rise of 0.88% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from June through October 2000.
Under our new COLA formula of one cent for each full 0.1% rise in the CPI-W, this comes to eight cents. This is the first of six adjustments under the 2000-2003 UE-GE National Contract. The next COLA increase is due in June 2001.
2001INSURANCE RATES SETLong Term Disability Insurance Decreased – LTDI contribution rates for will be lowered for the year 2001. The weekly compensation rate will be as follows:
For Hourly Workers with less than 14 years of PQS
Option I (50% of pay) 1.50% of Normal Straight Time Earnings
Option II (60% of Pay) 2.10% of Normal Straight Time Earnings
Option III (70% of pay) 2.70% of Normal Straight Time Earnings
For Hourly Workers with more than 14 years of PQS
Option I (50% of pay) $5.05 weekly
Option II (60% of pay) $7.45 weekly
Option III (70% of pay) $10.55 weekly
Dependents’ Life Insurance rates remain the same
Security Life Insurance Rates decrease for 2001 as follows:Option I 0.40% of Normal Straight Time Earnings
Option II 0.80% of Normal Straight Time Earnings
Personal Accident Insurance rates remain the same:
Monthly Rate for each $1000 Coverage
Employee Coverage $0.08
Dependent Coverage $0.10
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