Posts under “Furloughed Employees”
UTU Minnesota: Railroad Unemployment/Sickness Benefits
From Rob Newhouse
This isn't the best looking post I realize that but I think that you should be able to read it ok.
NOTE: RRB REPRINT FOR MEMBESHIP WHO ARE LAID
OFF.
OFFICE
OF THE LABOR MEMBER
U.S.
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
The following is the
questions and answers release for this month in text
format.
If you have internet
access, click on or type the address shown below to view this release
on
line.
http://www.rrb.gov/opa/qa_index.asp
NOTE: If after
printing the online version of the questions and answers, you are not
able to
capture all of its content, you may need to adjust the margin
settings on your
browser.
NOTE:
If you have a change in your e-mail address
or no
longer require this publication, please
click on
the address below to e-mail us.
Please also inform us of your
previous
e-mail address and organization name:
wheatola@rrb.gov
For
Publication
June 2009
New
Benefit Year for Railroad
Unemployment and Sickness
Benefits
A new benefit year under the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act begins July 1, 2009. Administered by the Railroad
Retirement Board (RRB), this Act provides two kinds of benefits for
qualified
railroaders: unemployment benefits for those who become unemployed
but
are ready, willing and able to work; and sickness benefits for those
who are
unable to work because of sickness or injury. Sickness benefits are
also
payable to female rail workers for periods of time when they are
unable to
work because of pregnancy and childbirth.
The
following questions and answers describe these benefits, their
eligibility
requirements, and how to claim them.
1.
What is the daily benefit rate payable
in the new benefit year beginning July 1, 2009?
Almost all employees will qualify for the new
maximum daily benefit rate of $64, which increased from $61 under
indexing
provisions reflecting the growth in average national wages. Benefits
are
generally payable for days of unemployment or sickness in excess of
four in
biweekly claim periods, which yields $640 for each two full weeks of
unemployment or sickness. However, sickness benefits resulting from
other than on-the-job injuries are subject to tier I railroad
retirement
payroll taxes for the first six months after the employee last
worked.
2.
What are the eligibility requirements
for railroad unemployment and sickness benefits in the new benefit
year?
To qualify for normal railroad unemployment or
sickness benefits, an employee must have had railroad earnings of at
least
$3,200 in calendar year 2008, not counting more than $1,280 for any
month. Those who were first employed in the rail industry in 2008
must
also have at least five months of creditable railroad service in
2008.
Under certain conditions, employees with 120 or more
months of railroad service who do not qualify on the basisof their
2008
earnings may still be able to receive benefits in the new benefit
year.
Employees with 120 or more months of service who received normal
benefits in
the benefit year ending June 30, 2009, may be eligible for extended
benefits,
and employees with 120 or more months of service might qualify for
accelerated
benefits if they have rail earnings of at least $3,325 in 2009, not
counting
earnings of more than $1,330 a month.
In order to qualify for extended unemployment
benefits, a claimant must not=2
0have voluntarily quit work without good
cause
and not have voluntarily retired. To qualify for extended sickness
benefits, a claimant must not have voluntarily retired and must be
under age
65.
To be eligible for accelerated benefits, a claimant
must have 14 or more consecutive days of either unemployment or
sickness; not
have voluntarily retired or, if claiming unemployment benefits, quit
work
without good cause; and be under age 65 when claiming sickness
benefits.
3.
How long are these benefits
payable?
Normal unemployment or sickness benefits are each
payable for up to 130 days (26 weeks) in a benefit year. The total
amount of each kind of benefit which may be paid in the new benefit
year
cannot exceed the employee’s railroad earnings in calendar year 2008,
counting
earnings up to $1,653 per month.
If normal benefits are exhausted, extended benefits
are payable for up to 65 days (during 7 consecutive registration
periods) to
employees with 10 or more years of service.
4.
What is the waiting-period requirement for unemployment and sickness
benefits?
Benefits are normally paid for the number of days of
unemployment or sickness over four in 14-day claim periods. However,
during the first 14-day claim period in a benefit year, benefits are
only
=0
A payable for each day of unemployment or sickness in excess of seven
which, in
effect, provides a one-week waiting period. Separate waiting periods
are
required for unemployment and sickness benefits. However, only one
seven-day waiting period is generally required during any period of
continuing
unemployment or sickness, even if that period continues into a
subsequent
benefit year.
Initial sickness claims must also begin with four
consecutive days of sickness.
5. Are
there special waiting-period requirements if unemployment is due to a
strike?
If a worker is unemployed because of a strike
conducted in accordance with the Railway Labor Act, benefits are
payable for
days of unemployment during 14-day claim periods after the first
claim period, but no
benefits are payable for days of unemployment during the first 14
days of the
strike.
If a strike is in violation of the Railway Labor
Act, unemployment benefits are not payable to employees participating
in the
strike. However, employees not among those participating in such an
illegal strike, but who are unemployed on account of the strike, may
receive
benefits after the first two weeks of the strike.
While a benefit year waiting period cannot count
toward a strike waiting period, the 14-day strike waiting period may
count as
=2
0the benefit year waiting period if a worker subsequently becomes
unemployed
for reasons other than a strike later in the benefit
year.
6. Can
employees in train and engine service receive unemployment benefits
for days
when they are standing by or laying over between scheduled
runs?
No, not if they are standing by or laying over
between regularly assigned trips or they missed a turn in pool
service.
7. Can
extra-board employees receive unemployment benefits between
jobs?
Yes, but only if the miles and/or hours they
actually worked were less than the equivalent of normal full-time
work in
their class of service during the 14-day claim period. Entitlement
to
benefits would also depend on the employee’s
earnings.
8. How
would an employee’s earnings in a claim period affect his or her
eligibility
for unemployment benefits?
If a claimant’s earnings for days worked, and/or
days of vacation or paid leave, in a 14-day claim period are more
than a
certain indexed amount, no benefits are payable for any days of
unemployment
in that period. That claim, however, can be used to satisfy the
waiting
period.
Earnings include pay from railroad and nonrailroad
work, as well as part-time work and self-employment. Earnings also
include pay20that an employee would have earned except for a failure
to mark up
or report for duty on time, or because he or she missed a turn in
pool service
or was otherwise not ready or willing to work. For the benefit year
that
begins July 2009 the indexed amount is $1,280, which corresponds to
the base
year monthly compensation amount used in determining eligibility for
benefits
in the new benefit year.
9. How
does a person apply for, as well as claim, unemployment
benefits?
Claimants can file their applications for
unemployment benefits, as well as their subsequent biweekly claims,
by mail or
online.
To apply by mail, claimants must obtain an
application from their labor organization, employer, local RRB office
or the
agency’s Web site at www.rrb.gov. The
completed application should be mailed to the local RRB office as
soon as
possible and, in any case, must be filed within 30 days of the date
on which
the claimant became unemployed or the first day for which he or she
wishes to
claim benefits. Benefits may be lost if the application is filed
late.
To file their applications -- or their biweekly
claims -- online, claimants must first establish an RRB Internet
Services
account. For security purposes, first time users must apply for a
Password Request
Code, which they will receive by mail in about 10
business
days. To do this, they should click on “Benefit Online Services” and
select “request a PRC.” Once they establish their online accounts,
they
will be able to file their applications and biweekly claims for
unemployment
benefits as well as conduct other business with the RRB over the
Internet. Employees are encouraged to establish online accounts
while
still employed so the account is ready if they ever need to apply for
these
benefits or use other select RRB Internet services. Employees who
have
already established online accounts do not need to do so
again.
The local RRB office reviews the completed
application, whether it was submitted by mail or online, and notifies
the
claimant’s current railroad employer, and base-year employer if
different. The employer has the opportunity to provide information
about
the benefit application.
After the RRB office processes the application,
biweekly claim forms are mailed to the claimant, and are also made
available
on the RRB’s Web site, as long as he or she remains unemployed and
eligible
for benefits. The time for filing a claim is 15 days from the last
day
of the claim period or 15 days from the date the claim form is mailed
to the
=2
0claimant or made available online, whichever is later. Claimants
should
not file both a paper claim and
an online claim for the same period.
Only one application needs to be filed during a
benefit year, even if a claimant becomes unemployed more than once.
However, a claimant must, in such a case, request a claim form from
an RRB
field office within 30 days of the first day for which he or she
wants to
resume claiming benefits. These claims may also be filed by mail or
online.
10. How
does a person apply for sickness benefits?
An application for sickness benefits can be obtained
from railroad labor organizations, railroad employers, any RRB office
or the
agency’s Web site. An application and a doctor’s statement of
sickness
are required at the beginning of each period of continuing sickness
for which
benefits are claimed. Claimants should make a special effort to
have the doctor’s statement of sickness completed promptly since no
claims can
be paid without it.
The RRB suggests that employees keep an application
on hand for use in claiming sickness benefits, and that family
members know
where the form is kept and how to use it. If an employee becomes
unable
to work because of sickness or injury, the employee should complete
the
application
and then have his or her doctor complete the statement of
sickness. (Employees should note that they must indicate on the
application whether they are applying for sickness benefits because
they were
injured at work or have a work-related illness. They must also
indicate
whether they have filed or expect to file a lawsuit or claim
against a third-party for
personal injury. If a
claimant receives sickness benefits for an injury or illness for
which he or
she is paid damages, it is important to be aware that the RRB is
entitled to
reimbursement of either the amount of the benefits paid for the
injury or
illness, or the net amount of the settlement, after deducting the
claimant’s
gross medical, hospital, and legal expenses, whichever is less.)
If
the employee is too sick to complete the application, someone else
may do
so. In such cases, a family member should also complete the
“Statement
of Authority to Act for Employee,” which accompanies the statement of
sickness.
After completion, the forms should be mailed to the
RRB’s headquarters in Chicago by the seventh day of the illness or
injury for which benefits are claimed. However, applications
received after 10 days but within 30 days of the first day for which
an
employee wishes to claim benefits are gene
rally considered timely
filed if
there is a good reason for the delay. After the RRB receives the
application and statement of sickness and determines eligibility,
biweekly
claim forms are mailed to the claimant for completion and return to
an RRB
field office for processing. The claim forms must be received at the
RRB
within 30 days of the last day of the claim period, or within 30 days
of the
date the claim form was mailed to the claimant, whichever is later.
Benefits may be lost if an application or claim is filed late.
Although claimants cannot currently file
applications or biweekly claims for railroad sickness benefits over
the
Internet, the RRB is planning to add the online filing of sickness
claims in
the future.
11. Is a
claimant’s employer notified each time a biweekly claim for
unemployment or
sickness benefits is filed?
The Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act requires the
RRB to notify the claimant’s base-year employer each time a claim for
benefits
is filed, and to give that employer an opportunity to submit
information
relevant to the claim before the RRB makes an initial determination
on the
claim. In addition, the claimant’s current employer is also
notified. The RRB must also notify the claimant’s base-year employer
each time=2
0benefits are paid to a claimant. The base-year employer
may
protest the decision to pay benefits. Such a protest does not
prevent
the timely payment of benefits. However, a claimant may be required
to
repay benefits if the employer’s protest is
successful.
The
RRB also checks with other Federal agencies and all 50 States, as
well as the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, to detect fraudulent benefit
claims and it
checks with physicians to verify the accuracy of medical statements
supporting
sickness benefit claims.
12.
How long does it take to receive payment?
Under the RRB’s Customer Service Plan, if a claimant
files an application for unemployment or sickness benefits, a
decision will be
made within 10 days of the date the application was filed. If a
claim
for subsequent biweekly unemployment or sickness benefits is filed, a
decision
will be made within 10 days of the date the RRB received the claim
form.
If the claimant is entitled to benefits, benefits will generally be
paid
within one week of that decision.
However, some claims for benefits may take longer to
handle than others if they are more complex, or if an RRB office has
to get
information from other people or organizations. If this happens,
0A claimants may expect an explanation and an estimate of the time
required to
make a decision.
Claimants who think an RRB office made the wrong
decision about their benefits have the right to ask for review and to
appeal. They will be notified of these rights each time an
unfavorable
decision is made on their claims.
13. How are
payments made?
Railroad unemployment and sickness insurance
benefits are paid by Direct Deposit. With Direct Deposit, benefit
payments are made electronically to an employee’s bank, savings and
loan,
credit union or other financial institution. New applicants for
unemployment and sickness benefits will be asked to provide
information needed
for Direct Deposit enrollment. Waivers are available to individuals
who
determine that Direct Deposit would cause a hardship, and to
individuals
without bank accounts.
14. Can
claimants access information online about their railroad unemployment
and
sickness benefit payments?
Claimants can access information about their
individual railroad unemployment insurance account statements via the
Internet. These account statements provide a summary of the
unemployment
and sickness benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance
Act to
rail employees.
This online service, called “RUIA Account
0A Statement,” displays the type and amount of a claimant’s last five
benefit
payments, the claim period for which the payments were made, and the
dates
that the payments were approved. Claimants can also confirm the
RRB’s
receipt of their latest application or claim for unemployment or
sickness
benefits, along with the receipt of any supplemental doctor’s
statement
required to continue the payment of sickness benefits. In addition,
the
service allows claimants to view the address currently on record for
them and,
if applicable, their direct deposit
information.
To use this service, claimants must establish an
Internet Services account, as described in the answer to question
9.
15. How can
claimants receive more information on railroad unemployment or
sickness
benefits?
Claimants with questions about unemployment or
sickness benefits should contact an RRB office by calling toll free
at
1-877-772-5772. Claimants can also find the address of the RRB
office
serving their area and get information about their claims and benefit
payments
by calling this toll-free number. Most RRB offices are open to the
public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on
Federal
holidays. Field office locations can also be found by visiting
www.rrb.
gov.
Posted in Furloughed Employees on 08.10.2009 5:58pm
Railroad Retirement Board Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
From Rob Newhouse
Special Extended Unemployment Benefits FAQ
1. Who will receive the special extended unemployment benefits?
Railroad workers who previously were not eligible for extended unemployment benefits because they did not have 10 years of railroad service (120 cumulative service months) may be eligible for up to 65 days within an extended period consisting of 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods. And Railroad workers who were previously eligible for extended unemployment benefits of up to 65 days may now be eligible for extended benefits of up to 130 days within an extended period consisting of 13 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
2. I have 8 years of railroad service and I ran out of my normal unemployment benefits on January 15, 2009. Am I eligible to receive the special extended unemployment benefits?
Yes, you would be eligible to receive up to 65 days within an extended period consisting of 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods. Your extended benefit period would begin on January 16, 2009, and benefits would be payable provided that you were still unemployed and ready, willing and able to work.
3. I have 20 years of railroad service and I exhausted my extended unemployment benefits on February 27, 2009. Am I eligible to receive the special extended unemployment benefits?
Yes, you would be eligible to receive an additional 65 days within an extended period consisting of a total of 13 consecutive 2-week registration periods. Your extended benefit period would last an additional 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods past February 27. Benefits would be payable provided that you were still unemployed and ready, willing and able to work.
4. What effect will the new law have on sickness benefits?
The extended unemployment benefit provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act apply only to unemployment benefits. No additional extended sickness benefits are payable. If you have less than 10 years of service, you are still not eligible for extended sickness benefits. If you have 10 or more years of service, you are still eligible to receive up to 65 days within an extended sickness benefit period consisting of 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
5. What must I do to receive my special extended unemployment benefits?
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will mail notices to eligible employees who previously exhausted their rights to normal or extended unemployment benefits. The notice will provide them information about their extended unemployment benefit period beginning and ending dates. The RRB will also mail claim forms for days in the extended period. If you do not receive a notice and you believe you are eligible for these added benefits, you can contact your local RRB office as outlined below.
6. When will my special extended unemployment benefit period begin?
In general, your special extended unemployment benefit period will begin the day after you exhausted any normal or regular extended unemployment benefits.
7. What is the latest date that a special extended benefit period can begin?
Special extended unemployment benefit periods can begin no later than December 31, 2009.
8. When will my special extended unemployment benefits end?
Special extended unemployment benefits are being paid from the appropriation of $20 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Payment of special unemployment benefits will stop at the end of a person's extended unemployment benefit period or when the $20 million has been spent - whichever comes first.
9. I returned to work and am now unemployed again. Can my special extended unemployment period beginning date be changed?
It depends. Extended benefit periods are frozen periods once they are established. If you exhausted normal benefits and did not receive any extended unemployment benefits, we can change the beginning date of your special extended unemployment benefit period. If, however, you already received some extended unemployment benefits but are now eligible for the additional 65 days, your extended benefit period beginning date can't be changed. Instead, we will change the ending date of your extended period to allow for the payment of any additional days you may be entitled to.
10. How can I file my claims?
Upon receipt of the unemployment claims, you may file your claims by mailing them to your local RRB office or by filing them over the Internet at www.rrb.gov. You will need to establish a PIN/password to file your claims over the Internet.
11. What is the fastest way to get my benefits?
Filing your claims over the Internet and signing up for direct deposit help ensure faster delivery of your claims and benefit payments. You should establish a PIN/password account at www.rrb.gov now so that you can file your claims over the Internet once you receive notice that your extended period has been established. In addition, please notify your local RRB office if you have moved or if your bank account information has changed. You may contact yourjocaj RRB office to sign up for direct deposit, make changes to your existing direct deposit information and update your address.
12. When will you start paying these special benefits?
Benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act are financed from taxes paid by railroad employers. However, these special extended unemployment benefits are being paid specifically from a $20 million appropriation provided under the Recovery Act legislation. Many of our automated systems need to be changed to allow for this exception. We have started work on these changes and will keep you updated on our progress online at wwwjrb.goy, and through announcements available by calling us toll-free at 1-877-772-5772 (1-877-RRB-5RRB).
13. What if I exhaust all of my normal, regular extended and/or special extended unemployment benefits?
A new benefit year begins July 1, 2009. You may receive unemployment benefits beginning July 1 or later if your railroad earnings were at least $3,200 in calendar year 2008, counting no more than $1,280 a month. You can obtain an application for benefits at your local RRB office or file an application over the Internet at www.rrb.gov. Applications are also available through railroad employers and many labor organizations. If you file for unemployment benefits, your application must be received within 30 days of the first day for which you want to claim benefits, or you may lose benefits.
14. Will the special extended unemployment benefits I receive because of the Recovery Act count as income for federal income tax purposes?
Yes. Under current law, all unemployment benefits are subject to taxation. We will report the amount of the special extended benefits you receive because of the Recovery Act on the Form 1099-G you receive in January, along with all other railroad unemployment benefits paid to you during the previous year. Under another provision of the Recovery Act, however, there will be no federal income tax on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits paid to you in 2009. This special rule applies only to unemployment benefits paid to you in 2009.
15. How do I get more information?
Please call your local RRB office toll-free at 1-877-772-5772 (1-877-RRB-5RRB), or check our website at www.rrb.gov for further information.
Posted in Furloughed Employees on 05.01.2009 11:40pm
Cobra Info for Furloughed Employees
From Rob Newhouse
(What follows is an important announcement regarding continuation of Health and Welfare coverage under COBRA for furloughed employees found on the UTU International's website.)
COBRA subsidy info available soon
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which was signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009, may temporarily reduce the premium you have to pay to purchase Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage under the medical, dental and/or vision plans for yourself and your qualified dependents, if you meet certain criteria.
All potentially affected employees will be receiving a notice from United Healthcare that will be sent by April 18, 2009, if they experienced a COBRA qualifying event at some time from Sept. 1, 2008, through Feb. 16, 2009.
Only employees who are losing coverage due to involuntary termination, which means that the employee stopped rendering compensated service due to a dismissal, a suspension or a furlough from employment, are eligible for the COBRA premium reduction. Involuntary termination status is determined by your former employer.
This group of employees may be eligible for the temporary premium reduction for up to six (6) months, and in some cases nine (9) months, beginning in March of 2009.
To help determine whether you qualify for the ARRA premium reduction, you should read the notice from United Healthcare carefully.
Members who either declined an earlier opportunity to enroll for COBRA, or elected COBRA but chose to discontinue the coverage, may be eligible for a second opportunity for enrollment and be eligible for the reduced COBRA premium.
The criteria for eligibility will be set forth fully in the notice from United Healthcare, and you are urged to read this notice very carefully, as there are certain timeframes in which you must elect this coverage.
If you are eligible for COBRA coverage for any reason other than the involuntary termination of the employee, including, but not limited to, resignation, retirement, disability, pregnancy leave or other voluntary leave of absence, then you will NOT be eligible for the reduced premium rate.
If you qualify for the reduced COBRA premium rate, you will be responsible for only 35 percent of the current COBRA monthly premium. The federal government will pay the remaining 65 percent of the cost.
This reduced cost would only be available to you beginning in March 2009. It is not available earlier, even if you were enrolled for COBRA coverage prior to March 2009.
If you were enrolled for COBRA continuation coverage in January and February of 2009, your payments for those months would remain at the standard COBRA premium rate and your rate for March and any subsequent months in which you were eligible for the premium reduction, would be at the reduced 35 percent premium rate.
Once you are no longer eligible for the reduced premium rate, you may continue your COBRA coverage at the standard premium rate, for up to the remainder of your COBRA eligibility period (18, 29 or 36 months).
You should note that although you may now be eligible for this second opportunity to enroll for COBRA continuation coverage, and elect COBRA coverage beginning on March 1, 2009, when the reduced premium rate took affect, your COBRA continuation coverage eligibility date does not change to March 1,2009.
For purposes of determining how long you may continue your COBRA coverage (18, 29 or 36 months), your original COBRA eligibility date will govern.
The information to be received from United Healthcare will fully set forth all the details about the manner in which to enroll for COBRA at this time and how to obtain the ARRA subsidy.
Also, while the initial notice only pertains to those members who were involuntarily terminated and eligible for COBRA between Sept. 1, 2008, and Feb. 16, 2009, those employees involuntarily terminated after Feb. 16, 2009, will also receive a notice setting forth similar details.
Any questions members have regarding the ARRA COBRA subsidy provisions should be referred to United Healthcare at (800) 842-5252, or contact them at the following address: United Healthcare, Railroad Accounts, P.O. Box 150453, Hartford, CT 06115-0453.
Posted in Furloughed Employees on 05.01.2009 12:06am
Railroad Unemployment
From Rob Newhouse
Information for railroad unemployment claimants in benefit year July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED VIA FAX AS AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED.
Railroad Retirement Board, 180 E 5TH Street, Suite 195, St. Paul, MN 55101-1640
Hours 9:00 AM THRU 3:30 PM Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays
Telephone 1-877-772-5772; FAX 651-290-3076
RRB HELP LINE NUMBER 1-877-772-5772.
Website: WWW.RRB.GOV
BASE YEAR 2007 FOR BENEFIT YEAR 2008:
Base year January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007
Benefit year, July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
HOW DO I QUALIFY?
By earning $3075.00 in railroad wages during base year 2007, in at least 3 separate months counting no more than $1230.00 in any month. If 2007 was the first year you ever worked for a railroad you need 5 months of railroad service in 2007 to qualify in the benefit year beginning July 1, 2008.
WAITING PERIOD:
A "waiting period" of 7 days is required for both unemployment and sickness benefit claims. Claimant should file a claim as soon as possible to fulfill their waiting period.
MAXIMUM DAILY BENEFIT AMOUNT:
$61 per day or $610 for a completed 14 day claim. (FIRST FULL CLAIM PAYS $427.00)
BENEFITS ARE PAYABLE:
Up to 26 weeks (130 paid days) in a benefit year, up to a total of $7,930.00. but no more than what you had in base year earnings. The 130 paid days apply to both unemployment and to sickness benefits. If you have more than 120 months of railroad service you may receive an additional 13 weeks or 65 days of "Extended" benefits.
EARNINGS & MILEAGE RESTRICTIONS:
If you have total earnings of more than $1230.00 during a 14 day registration period unemployment benefits are not payable. This includes vacation pay & non-railroad work as well as railroad work. The earnings restriction does not apply to the waiting period. The mileage restriction for train & engine service employees is 1300 miles in a 14 day period.
CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS:
You must complete an application and submit it to our office within 30 days. The 14 day claim cards must be received in a Board office within 15 days of the last day on the claim or the date released to you, whichever is later. However, do not mail your claim card before the ending date of the card. Always start your claim with a day of unemployment.
CLAIMING SICKNESS BENEFITS: (on or off the job injury)
Obtain a sickness benefit application from your employer, labor organization or the Railroad Retirement Board. Complete your portion of the application and have your doctor complete his portion. Mail the forms to the Board office in Nashville. You must be off work for at least 4 consecutive days to start a claim for sickness benefits and a total of 5 days during a 14 day registration period.
IF EITHER THE APPLICATION OR CLAIM CARDS WILL BE LATE, PLEASE PROVIDE A STATEMENT IN WRITING EXPLAINING WHY IT IS LATE. IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE A STATEMENT, YOUR BENEFITS WILL BE DENIED.
Posted in Furloughed Employees on 04.30.2009 10:58pm
What the agreement says about the furloughs
From Rob Newhouse
ARTICLE 12-1 - REDUCTION IN FORCES
(November 22, 1983 Amendment)
(a) When forces are reduced, employees will be laid off in the reverse order of seniority and will be notified in writing that they have been furloughed, copy of such notice to be furnished to the local Union representative.
(b) When it is necessary to increase the force either temporarily or
permanently, the Railroad Company will call back, in their turn, employees who have been furloughed account reduction in force. Employees who respond to notice to return to service, as prescribed herein, will retain the seniority date which they had prior to being furloughed. If, due to an emergency, it becomes necessary to use a junior employee, the employee shall not be regarded as accumulating any working seniority rights other than what the employee would have held if called back to his regular turn, and no claims for time shall be made by senior employee.
(c) Employees shall keep the management advised as to their address, and when called back to service will be required to report within fifteen days from the time they are notified by U.S. mail at their last known address. Unless excepted for good and sufficient reasons, employees who fail to report within the specified time, will forfeit their seniority rights. Good and sufficient reasons are understood to mean sickness or injuries.
Also from Bob Hill...
Furloughed employees' insurance is good for 4 months past last month of compensation. ie for those furloughed today April 8,2009, the insurance should be good through the month of August.
If you were hired after June 2008 make sure to apply to the state for unemployment.
Also make sure that you notify cmc of any address changes while furloughed.
Posted in Furloughed Employees on 04.08.2009 10:44pm
Standby Agreement For Glenwood Yard
From Rob Newhouse
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE SOO LINE RAILROAD COMPANY
AND THE UNITED TRANSPORTATION UNION
1. Purpose - the parties desire to create an alternative status to furlough for employees
assigned to Glenwood, MN who were hired after October 14, 1993. This agreement creates, on an experimental test basis, an alternative to furlough status that will allow for auxiliary work and training (standby status) for a specified number of employees at Glenwood, MN, in seniority order, who would otherwise be furloughed.
2. Eligibility - A Company specified number of employees hired after October 14,1993 who
are unable to exercise seniority and who otherwise would be furloughed may be offered the opportunity to voluntarily accept this standby status, in seniority order. The number of
employees eligible for this standby status at Glenwood, MN, will be identified by the Company and may be adjusted each month, depending on the needs of the operation. When subsequent force reductions are necessary and the number of employees eligible at that board point is not adjusted, this standby status may be made available in seniority order with junior employees reverting to a furioughed status. Employees may be recalled to active service upon 48 hours advance notice. Recalling employees from this standby status to active service will not result in furloughed employees being placed in this alternative status.
3. Assignment - CMC will notify an employee at the time of furlough of this option. If the
employee accepts, every effort will be made to work and train the employee at the extra board location nearest the employee's residence. If the employee is required to work or train at another location of the Company's choosing, more than thirty miles (via the shortest route) from the employee's residence, he/she will be treated, for purposes of lodging, meals and, if applicable, use of his/her vehicle, as an extra employee working/training at that location.
4. Availability - Employees electing this standby status will be required to be available to start work eight days per month which may also require them to work additional days in order to complete a tour of duty/return to his/her home terminal. CMC will advise employees assigned in this status and the UTU Local Chairman of the monthly availability schedule prior to the first day of the month. Employees electing this option may be recalled to an active status upon 48 hour advance notice.
5. Work and Training - Employees may be used on their designated work days for any work or training assignments required of other train/yard service employees.
6. Vacancy Procedure - Employees may be used as a source of supply for filling vacancies,
protecting emergencies and performing extra service when the normal extra board is exhausted of employees available at the straight time rate of pay. On days when an employee assigned in this standby status is required to be available, as outlined in 4 above, he/she may be considered the next source of supply. It is not the Intent of this Agreement to use this status as a way to reduce the number of employees assigned to extra boards.
7. Order of call where multiple employees are scheduled on the same day, they will be called for work on a rotation basis. Employees may be called out of rotation for training.
8. Compensation - Employees will be guaranteed a minimum of eight days pay per month, at the applicable foreman basic daily rate, so long as the employee performs all work and training for which called or is available for service on his/her scheduled days. This monthly guarantee will be offset by any compensation earned in that month. The guarantee payment will be included in the second half payroll. If an employee misses one call during their scheduled time to be available, the guarantee will be reduced by one day. If an employee misses more than one call during their scheduled time to be available, the entire eight day guarantee will be forfeited for that month.
9. Health & Welfare - Health & Welfare benefits will be provided in accordance with applicable agreements.
10. Dispute Resolution - The parties acknowledge this Agreement is a pioneer effort at
addressing the issue of recent hire furlough. In order to enhance the opportunity for success of this effort the parties believe a new approach to dispute resolution is in order. Therefore, before any time claim or grievance is initiated regarding the application of this Agreement, the General Chairman and the Director of Labor Relations will promptly discuss the issue and attempt to resolve it in a manner reflecting the spirit of the Agreement.
11 - Cancellation - Either party may cancel this Agreement by serving a thirty-day written notice upon the other. During that thirty-day period, the parties will meet to attempt to resolve the issue(s) that led to the cancellation notice.
12. Implementation - The Agreement will be effective March 1 , 2009.
Posted in Furloughed Employees on 03.04.2009 10:58pm