USW Local 890L - Pension and Insurance

(Portions of this change are under protest by the Union. We will keep you updated of any changes.)

As most of you know there has been a change in how we can purchase diabetic supplies and insulin. Currently our items are covered in the Major Medical Plan (BCBS) under Durable Medical Equipment and covered at 100%, if you stay in-network. They are no longer covered under the Prescription Drug Plan (Prime Therapeutics). Additionally, do not use an out-of-network provider as you will be liable for a major portion of the cost of your supplies and insulin.

Listed below is Durable Medical Equipment providers within 25 miles that are in network and diabetic aids can be purchased there. However there is only one provider that carries insulin. I have listed each provider and their information as I know it; please call them if you have any questions.

Note: I was told by the BCBS Medical Representative that an individual could also go to any in-network pharmacy and receive their diabetic aids and insulin; however the individual would need to pay the entire cost out of his own pocket. At which time the individual could fill out a Medical Reimbursement form and send it in to BCBS along with copies of his or her prescriptions and receipts and be reimbursed. Just remember that you will need to pay the entire amount out of pocket using this method.

Important Phone Numbers: Please call to verify whatever option of purchase you decide.

In a meeting called by the Company, Union representatives from Bryan, Freeport and Des Moines met in Freeport this past week to discuss improvements in our basic life insurance plan with Titan Tire. An initial review of the proposed plan, now to be offered through Unum, has been discussed by the Local Union negotiating team. After more conference call discussions with Titan and the Local Unions at Freeport and Des Moines this week, the Union will be preparing a more final plan to share with the membership. This will be done in more detail at the February 13^th Membership Meeting.

The Union negotiating team believes the enhancements to the offered plan through Unum are many:

4. Availability of a Term Plan and Whole Life for Spouse, children, grandchildren

Again, more details are forthcoming and will be shared at the February Membership Meetings.

There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about Tom Noe’s Coingate and the Bureau of Workers’ Comp. involvement. A lot of questions have been asked about the financial loses the Bureau suffered and how this is going to affect Workers’ Comp. claims, both new and old.

All of the money that has been lost or misinvested came out of what is known as the Surplus Fund. The Bureau of Workers’ Comp. is required to maintain this fund in order to guarantee payouts over the life of all existing and future claims.

Over the years, that I personally have been involved with Workers’ Comp., this fund has been as high as $41 billion. Currently it is around $21 billion. Most of this money was made and lost in Stock Market in the 80’s and 90’s. The Bureau of Workers’ Comp. currently says there is still over $21 Billion in the Surplus Fund.

A new Oversight Committee is being put in place to make sure this doesn’t happen again. On November 1, 2005 a new Administrator for the Bureau of Workers’ Comp.was appointed by Governor Taft.

The unfortunate part of all this is that there are now rumblings within the Bureau that all this might rekindle the fires for turning the system over to private insurance companies, as former Governor Voinovich tried to do before he left office. Not good.

As your Workers’ Comp. Rep., I would like to inform you of a couple of changes that have been made in the way we are required to handle Workers’ Comp. information. The information contained in this letter is not new or different from what has been the rule in the past.

As a Self-Insured Employer, in the Ohio Workers’ Comp. system, CTNA administrates it’s own Workers’ Comp. benefits and maintains all medical records pertaining to your work related injury or Claim.

In the past we have had an exchange of information policy that was rather liberal, on both sides. Technically a signed written request should be submitted to the Employer to receive any information. CTNA recently informed us this would now be a requirement for not only paperwork, but before they would even speak to us about your work related injury.

As many of you may know, a large majority of your Workers’ Comp. problems are related to paperwork confusion. Before, if you had a problem you had to hunt me down or I had to come find you and have you sign release forms so we could get this paperwork. Recently we started a new program with CTNA where we had our release form in CTNA’s Workers’ Comp. packet that you pick up in H.R.

Which was working fine. But we have been told because of legal concerns the release could not have the USWA symbol on it. At the same time we were also informed that because of the new HIPPA laws; which do not pertain to work related injuries; and concerns from CTNA’s legal counsel that a specific request from would be required to get any paperwork.

At this time I believe we will be able to comply with CTNA’s requests, which they are within their rights to require according to Ohio Workers’ Comp. Rules and Laws.

CTNA assures the Union that they are only being protective of your right to privacy and the protection of your medical information. They don’t want to release this information to just anyone.

So if you have or have had a work related injury you need to, 1) Fill out an Incident Report, 2) Stop into H.R. and pick up a Workers’ Comp. Packet, 3) Sign the Release Form in that packet, you will be given the option of signing this form to have the Union represent you. It is your choice to sign or not. Just remember if you don’t we will have no access to your records or be able to talk to anyone about bills and payments.

CTNA Bryan Plant Bargaining Committee

7-19-05

During bargaining on July 18 and 19, your bargaining committee reached agreement with the company on the re-opener issues. Although these were difficult, drawn-out negotiations, we are proud to present to you the details of this agreement:

Pension Multiplier: the pension multiplier has been increased to $51.50 per month of service, retroactive to April 1, 2003. This increased multiplier applies to all those who retired on or after April 1, 2003.

Special Early Retirement Table: the early retirement supplement is increased to $340, retroactive to April 1, 2003. The following is the new table that will replace the one currently in your contract:

Ø Special Medicare Benefit: the $50 reimbursement for Medicare Part B is continued, provided retirees enroll in the program.

Ø Retiree Supplements and Kickers: the re-opener agreement does not include supplements or kickers because none were negotiated during industry bargaining.

Ø Lump Sum Payments: the re-opener agreement does not include lump sum payments because none were negotiated during industry bargaining.

Ø Fas-106 Caps: the FAS caps remain the same at $18,000 for Pre-65 and $4,200 for Post-65. There is also no change to the date they apply.