Pandemic Update March 30th (22nd Edition)

Brothers and Sisters,

As I have said in previous communications, your administration has been working with the Electrical Insurance Trustees and our counterparts at the Electrical Contractors Association to provide some relief for the Membership in these trying times. I am happy to announce another extension of the temporary changes described below.

· Temporarily waive the one-week waiting period for layoffs after March 1, 2020.

· Temporarily change the lookback period for SUB Eligibility from the 12 months prior to your lay off date or the previous four quarters from your layoff date to 18 months prior to your lay off date or the previous six quarters from your layoff date for layoffs after March 1, 2020.

· Benefits will be temporarily extended for Members who currently receive benefits under an existing claim for an additional 13 weeks once they have exhausted their current 52-week claim.

· Participants who were registered on the Union’s out of work list on March 1, 2020, and who previously exhausted their 52-weeks of Supplemental Unemployment Benefits payable under the Plan will be entitled to a one-time, 13-week extension.

Next, I would like to announce the extension of the following temporary changes to the Construction, Residential, and Communication Health & Welfare Plans.

· Effective for April 1, 2021, Eligibility Quarter, Members who were laid off, furloughed, or otherwise experienced a reduction in hours on or after March 1, 2020, and whose health care coverage would otherwise terminate due to insufficient contributed hours shall be credited Emergency Public Health Leave hours sufficient to continue their eligibility until the next Eligibility Quarter.

Below are the following temporary changes to the Electrical Insurance Trustees Health & Welfare Plan for Building, Hotel, Sign, and Maintenance Participants:
· Effective for the January 1, February 1, and March 1, 2021 eligibility periods, Members who were laid off, furloughed, or otherwise experienced a reduction in hours on or after March 1, 2020, and whose health care coverage would otherwise terminate due to insufficient contributed hours shall be credited Emergency Public Health Leave hours sufficient to continue their eligibility until the next eligibility period.
Brothers and Sisters, we hope that we will be able to hold our monthly union meeting in May. Obviously, this will depend on the decline in Covid numbers coupled with the number of vaccinations administered by then. We also will need State and City approval. This will be a limited Members meeting that you will sign up for through Members login. Details will follow as they become available. I realize that all of us want to hold monthly meetings, but we have to be safe and smart in doing so. Also, I would like the Membership to be aware we have begun negotiations for the A, C, & R collective bargaining agreements. I will keep you informed as we continue these negotiations
In closing, these extensions and changes will help the Membership during these troubled times. I want all of you to know your administration will continue to update and inform the Membership regularly. Stay safe; stay strong. Stay 134 Strong!

In Solidarity,

Don Finn
Business Manager

Understanding Your Supplemental Unemployment Benefits

SUB Fund Application

EIT Member Self Service User’s Guide and Registration

In the event of any disagreement between this notice and any communication you receive from the Electrical Insurance Trustees, the communication from the Electrical Insurance Trustees shall control.