Below is information on:
Local 764 Benefits Town Hall
Local 764 BENEFIT TOWN HALL: Monday July 27th at 2pm. Representatives from the IATSE National Benefit Funds, Local 764 Pension & Annuity Funds and the Local 764 401(k) Funds will be giving an update on the various funds and recent events.
Please register for Local 764 Benefits Town Hall on Jul 27, 2020 2:00 PM EDT at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3614218274083410959
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Please use the registration form to ask your questions of our panelists in advance!
NOTE: We are aware that main question from many members is whether Health Insurance Benefits be extended past September 30th. As of this email, the trustees have not made that decision. Please scroll down this email for the communication sent to participants from the IATSE National Benefit Fund on 7/21/22020.
LOCAL 764 ELECTION RESULTS
Results of the Local 764 2020 Election
President: Patricia White
Vice-President: Vangeli Kaseluris
Trustees:
Kimberly Butler Gilkeson
Terry LaVada
Raven Jakubowski
William (Bill) Hubner
CALL-IN DAY OF ACTION: STILL IN PROGRESS TODAY!
Click here to tell the Senate to pass the HEROES Act as part of our National Call in Day of Action
The HEROES Act includes the following provisions:
The HEROES Act was designed to save lives and livelihoods. Without action, working families that rely on the entertainment industry to make ends meet will face immense hardship. It has become clear that uncoordinated piecemeal actions will not stop the spread or save the economy. The importance of a federal response cannot be overstated.
Tell the Senate to get back to work and pass the HEROES Act now, and do what is right for our health, our economy and our country.
In Solidarity,
Team IATSE
From the IATSE National Benefit Funds
The IATSE National Benefit Funds Board of Trustees met this past week and much of the meetings were focused on continuing to assist Plan participants during this continuing pandemic.
Announcement Regarding Further Relief for Participants in the IATSE National Funds due to the Covid-19 Pandemic
* Extended Relief for Health & Welfare Plan A Participants for June and July
* Status of Further Relief For Health & Welfare Plans A and C
* Relief for Permanent Breaks in Service in the National Pension Fund
Health Plan A and Plan C
As you are aware, as a result of the Plan C CAPP rate relief adopted by the Health Fund’s Board of Trustees for the quarter beginning July 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Plan C participants remain covered through September 30, 2020. In addition, eligible Health Plan A participants were granted credit for 10 days of work per month for March, April, and May 2020 to assist them in remaining covered.
We are writing to let you know that, at their recent Board meeting, the Trustees further agreed that Plan A participants who were enrolled in Plan A coverage on March 1, 2020 and received employer contributions to Health Plan A in 2020 will receive an additional crediting of 10 days of work for June and July, in order to assist with continued coverage.
In addition, the Trustees are continuing to work diligently to consider reasonable and cost effective options for ensuring coverage for Plan C participants for the quarter beginning October 1 as well as further relief for Plan A participants beyond the monthly work credits through July, while monitoring possible federal legislation that may be helpful to the Fund’s participants, which is expected in early August.
Pension Plan B and Plan C
The Trustees agreed to relief for non-vested participants who would otherwise lose credits earned in the National Pension Fund (under the Plans’ permanent break in service rules) due to the pandemic. The Trustees agreed that anyone who had incurred, immediately prior to 2020, four (4) consecutive one year breaks in service will not incur a break in service for 2020 due to not working at least 37.5 days in 2020, provided they return to work and earn at least 37.5 days in 2021. Such participants therefore will not forfeit prior earned credits due to insufficient credit for work in 2020 as long as they work at least 37.5 days in 2021.
We hope these changes help assure you that the Board of Trustees is continually monitoring your needs during this unprecedented time. As more changes occur, we will continue to communicate with you. Check our website, www.iatsenbf.org, frequently for updates.
Training and Education
CPR & AED ONLINE TRAINING
AUGUST 17, 2020 at 12 pm EDT
Register for this online training at [email protected].
For this online training supplies will be mailed to you at the location you provide.
After completion of your training, simply mail the supplies back with the label that will be provided.
Requirements for this class include:
WHY UNIONS STILL MATTER WEBINAR
THURSDAY JULY 30th at 3 pm EDT
Why Unions Still Matter: How Worker Power builds an economy that creates jobs, raises wages, and promotes a better quality of life for All.
Every day unions and their members are under attack. While corporate profits and executive salaries soar, American workers face disappearing pensions, increased hours and declining wages.
Many say unions have outlived their usefulness. Nothing could be further from the truth! Why Unions Still Matter, an informative and enlightening presentation, developed by the Labor Education Program at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, in conjunction with the IATSE makes the case that strong unions are an essential component of a strong and stable economy.
IATSE members who have seen this presentation have given it great reviews and say that it explains our history and invigorates workers to be more involved in their locals and in the Union movement.
Presented by Diane Thomas-Holladay, Labor Education Program, Little Rock, AR & the IATSE Education & Training Department.
REGISTER BELOW:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1095771497497237776
THE IMPACT OF ELECTIONS ON LABOR LAW, UNIONS & THEIR MEMBERS:
Recorded Webinar:
As mentioned at the July 20th Membership Meeting, this is a recording of the live webinar done by Local 764’s accountant James Heinzman. When we elect a President, we empower an entire Administration with an agenda that will have consequences for the health, work, and security of ourselves and our Union for years to come.
Presidential appointments to government agencies oversee unions, their members, and their employers. The Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation have directly impacted the lives of working people in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO WATCH THE PRESENTATION:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/7907965111442463747
UPDATE FROM NY STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
The New York State Department of Labor has issued some new
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)around Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and Extended Benefits (EB):
https://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/extended-benefits-faq.pdf
Members with Unemployment Claims that are about to expire should look at the frequently asked questions and also visit the NYS DOL site here:
https://dol.ny.gov/unemployment/exhausted-or-expired-unemployment-insurance-benefits
For help navigating these sites, you may contact Leah Okin at [email protected]. Please keep in mind that Local 764 cannot register for benefits for you.
RESOURCES
COVID Rent Relief Program from New York State:
Beginning Thursday July 16, 2020 applications will be accepted for the New York State COVID Rent Relief Program. The COVID Rent Relief Program will provide eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance. More information including eligibility, applications and FAQ’s can be found at https://hcr.ny.gov/RRP .
Local 764 Wally Hall Fund
Members in good standing may take a loan of up to $3000.00 from the Local 764 Wally Hall Emergency Fund. These loans are interest free for 18 months. Please contact Julie Fernandez at [email protected] for more information.
Actors Fund
Local 764 has a Members Assistance Program that is administered by the Actors Fund. Members should contact [email protected] for the social service resources provided through the 764 Membership Assistance Program.
For information and application to financial assistance provided through the Actors Fund, please visit their website here: https://actorsfund.org/am-i-eligible-help
The Actors Fund works in conjunction with the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), and they coordinate grants to COVID-19 applicants.
BEHIND THE SCENES:
Local 764 Members have access to the Mental Health resources provided by Behind the Scenes, which includes a peer-to-peer chat app, an Entertainment Industry Therapist Finder, and other resources. These resources may be shared with family members, and can assist you in reaching out to someone you are worried about.
https://wp.behindthescenescharity.org/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-initiative/
RETURN TO WORK
If you are contacted by your employer to return to work, PLEASE CONTACT LOCAL 764!
For Leah Okin: [email protected]
For Frank Gallagher: [email protected]