Benefits For Laid Off Employees
    In our contracts (Alcan and Century) there are provisions for supplemental benefits to those that are laid off.  Benefits include SUB-PAY and Healthcare.  Also see changes made to COBRA Health Care Continuation ... more

New Information to Help People with their COBRA
   February 9, 2011, Ravenswood, WV - You don't have to be in school to be eligible, you only have to have been involuntarily terminated from employment between September 1, 2008 and may 31 2010. This bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide that Century will have to pay 65% of the COBRA leaving you with 35% and you will be able to maintain this coverage for 15 Months.  Thanks L.W. for the info.

For more information please follow this link:  http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html

TRA Benefits and Retirement
    February 1, 2011 - NOTICE - Employees currently receiving TRA Benefits and considering retirement need to call Joanne Stone at 304-558-2611 to discuss their options.
To all members and retirees;
Issue: Health care; Pre Existing Conditions;
    January 26, 2011 - Ravenswood, WV - If you are eligible for COBRA under the program where Century is paying for it for 6 Months, you need to get signed up for it right away, any lapse  in insurance coverage will result in Insurance companies being able to deny you and/or your dependants coverage if there is a pre existing condition. If you do not have a lapse in coverage the Insurance Companies can not deny you coverage because of a pre existing condition.   If you elect Cobra for the six month period, upon completion, you cannot be denied insurance coverage due to a preexisting condition by another insurance company.  You must have your Creditable Coverage Letter that will be issued by the Company to give to another insurance company when you apply for other benefits. 
 
    If an insurance company denies you coverage after you show them your credible coverage letter please contact us so we can help you with it.
 
    Those of you who will not be eligible for the free COBRA for 6 months, the same rules apply. If you or 1 of your dependants has a pre existing condition, you will need to either pick up the COBRA or purchase a policy before your insurance at Century expires in order to keep from being denied coverage because of the pre existing condition.
  
Eli Morris, Grievance Chairman
 grievancechair@suddenlinkmail.com
Local 5668 USW
R.R. 1 Box 96 K
Ravenswood, WV      26164

West Virginia Bridge Gap Grant Information
Elaine Huskins, Grant Coordnitor
Elaine.O.Huskins@wv.gov
(877)967-5498

 
    January 24, 2011, Ravenswood, WV - Employees eligible for Trade Readjustment Assistance (TRA) benifits need to obtain insurance coverage before the IRS or the WV Bridge Gap Grant can be of assistance.  Once they have made a choice of Insurance Carrier and have received a copy of their monthly insurance statement, then we can process the application (with required documentation) for the WV Bridge Gap Grant. The IRS will require the same information when they call the IRS Customer Service Center.

For more information and an application to download and print click here.

Century Aluminum Slashes Employees Insurance.


On January 1, 2011 Century Aluminum is going to cut off health care for all retirees who have retired under the 2006 labor agreement post and pre 65 retirees. The pre 65 retiree group will continue to have health care insurance for 6 months or until the age of 65 whichever comes first. Letters will be going out to their homes immediately from Century Aluminum notifying them of this change. Isn't it great to have an employer like this in your community?

The employees were promised insurance coverage in return for the work that they performed. The employees performed the work but now THE COMPANY says no insurance.

Notice for Laid Off Employees - Both Plants

    December 13, 2010, Ravenswood, WV - If you are laid off from either plant and have received a letter stating you are eligible for TRA benefits, there are benefits available to help pay your COBRA premium to maintain your health care insurance.

Two things are available, HCTC this is through the IRS and you have to apply for it, it pays 80 % of the cost of COBRA, if the benefits aren't continued by congress this will be reduced to 65% after January, if renewed it will remain at 80%.

West Virginia also has a Bridge Gap Plan program that will pay for this same benefit for 3 months while you are applying for HCTC.

To apply for these benefits they will need;

1. Letter showing they are eligible for TRA
2. Proof of Age
3. Statement showing how much Insurance (COBRA) will cost
4. Fill out application

If you think you are eligible please call Elaine Huskins @ 1-877-967-5498

Eli Morris, Grievance Chairman
grievancechair@suddenlinkmail.com
Local 5668 USW
R.R. 1 Box 96 K
Ravenswood, WV 26164

NOTICE PRE-65 CENTURY EMPLOYEES

    November 30, 2010, Ravenswood, WV - There have been some questions about the issue of pre-65 Century employees with pre existing conditions not being able to get insurance once Century steals their Insurance the first of the year. I have done some checking and below is what I have found that these employees need to do.

    I have been told that they can not be denied insurance if they had proof that they had credible insurance and they lost it through no fault of their own, they can get that from the company.

    These employees should all sign up for the COBRA, as it will be free for 6 months, this will give them time to get insurance and not have a lapse in coverage.

Eli Morris - Grievance Chairman
Local 5668 USW

 

USWA
District 8

Local 5668
 RR 1 Box 96K
 Ravenswood WV 26164
 304-273-9319
 local5668@suddenlinkmail.com 


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