Dec. 3, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
Reminder: The deadline for submitting essays for the Martin Luther King scholarship contest is Monday, Dec. 6 as entries must be postmarked by then or received in plant mail no later than Dec. 7. So this is the last weekend to get those essays composed.
The Education Committee will be having a meeting Tuesday, Dec. 7 at the Union Hall 15 minutes after the longest first shift line time. The Committee is looking for a secretary so if you are interested please plan on attending.
In addition to the visit from Santa, the annual Christmas dance will be Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Union Hall. Doors open at 7 pm and live music will run from 8 pm to midnight (the band is Max Thrust). Snacks, beer and set-ups will be provided. Come on out for this holiday celebration with your Union brothers and sisters.
The annual chassis Christmas party will be Friday, Dec. 17 after work at Maggie Malone’s, 990 Wentzville Parkway. Everyone is welcome. There will be free eats, drink specials and everyone will get a ticket for door prizes. If you have any questions see Sue Picou @ column F-44.
General Motors Co. said yesterday that it has made a $4 billion cash payment to its pension plans. The company said in October that it would pay $6 billion to the plans, with $4 billion in cash and $2 billion worth of common stock. GM says Thursday's payment went to the U.S. pension plans. The automaker put $1.3 billion into the salaried plan and $2.7 billion into the hourly plan. At the end of last year the U.S. pension funds were $17.1 billion short of their obligations. Their value will be measured again at the end of this year. GM Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell says the payments bring the company closer to fully funding its pensions and having minimal debt. About 688,000 people get benefits from GM's U.S. pension plans.
From the Detroit Free Press: U.S. automotive industry sales could top 17 million by 2015, Michael Robinet, director of global production forecasts for researcher IHS Automotive, said today. He expects sales will exceed 12.8 million next year and 16 million in 2013 before reaching 17 million in 2015. "We are pretty confident... We looked at where this market could go in terms of the number of new drivers coming into the market and the number of older vehicles that could be replaced," Robinet said. Over the next 10 years, the U.S. driving population is expected to increase by an annual average of 9%, or by 25 million, according to IHS Automotive.
Here are some questions and answers about our health care coverage:
Q. Can I add my 19 to 26 (through the month they turn age 26) year old son/daughter to my medical coverage? Are there eligibility requirements?
A. Yes, if you are hourly active employee, you may enroll either your or you current spouses’ children by birth or adoption. Adult dependent children enrolled in the medical plan no longer need to meet requirements related to: IRS dependency, residency, student status or marital status. No, you cannot enroll your adult dependent children if you are an hourly retiree, Retiree-Only Plans are exempt from the Health Care Reform.
Q. I am a hourly active employee, how long can an eligible dependent remain under my medical coverage?
A. Through the end of the month in which they turn age 26. If their birthday is October 15 (when they turn age 26), then their coverage will end October 31.
Q. Is my 25 year old dependent eligible for dental and/or vision coverage?
A. No, dental and/or vision coverage eligibility requirements for hourly actives remain unchanged. Coverage through the year they turn age 19 or age 24 if full time student at least one semester in a calendar year. Full time student documentation will be required. More information will be communicated early in 2011.
Q. How will health care reform impact preventive services and medications?
A. There will be no impact to the preventive services and medications under the hourly active and retiree plans. Currently, all hourly active plans are grandfathered and the hourly retiree plans are exempt from health care reform changes.
Q. I am a UAW active regular employee, are my prescription drug co-pays changing?
A. Yes, your prescription drug co-pays are changing for some categories. For retail (up to a 30 day supply), they will be $6 for generic medications, $12 for brand medications, and $17 for erectile dysfunction medications. For mail order (up to a 90 day supply), they are $12 for generic medications, $17 for brand medications, and $21 for erectile dysfunction medications.
Q. Are UAW Entry Level and Components Holding hourly employees eligible for dental benefits?
A. Yes. Entry Level and Components Holding hourly employees are eligible for dental benefits upon attaining 3 years of service under the GM Hourly Health Care Program.
Q. Are there any changes to my vision coverage in 2011?
A. No, there are no changes to the vision plan in 2011.
Q. Is my vision carrier changing in 2011?
A. If you are UAW or IUE represented, DavisVision will remain the carrier in 2011. If you are represented by a union that is not UAW or IUE, your carrier will change in 2011 to DavisVision. For more information about DavisVision, they can be contacted at 888-672-8393. Enrollees with a carrier change will receive a mailing in mid-December with more information regarding the DavisVision network.
Q. Are UAW Entry Level and Components Holding hourly employees eligible for vision benefits?
A. Yes. Under the GM Hourly Health Care Program, Entry Level and Components Holding hourly employees are eligible for a vision exam upon attaining 3 years of service and full vision benefits upon attaining 5 years of service.
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