UAL Teamsters EAP presentation
Employee Assistance Program Coordinators Joe Schwirian and Steve Loone addressed the steering committee in the afternoon of July 12.
The Teamsters' EAP offers free help to their brother/sister Union members and their families when a personal problem develops. The EAP Coordinators will listen to any problem and will assist in developing a plan of action that will meet the member needs. If necessary, a referral to a qualified service provider in the Community may be recommended.
The Employee Assistance Program is voluntary and it is up for the member to decide whether or not to follow through with EAP suggestions or recommendations. However, as Teamster members themselves, the EAP coordinators pride themselves in absolute confidentiality and discretion.
The services provided by EAP are free. If the referral to a community service provider is necessary, your EAP coordinator will work with you to make effective use of your insurance benefits.
The purpose of this presentation was to help educate the entire committee of the important service this group offers to UAL Teamster members. Currently, this program is offered to sub-UA mechanics and related and is protected and funded by UAL through a Letter of Agreement. The EAP group would like to continue the work they do for the entire combined M&R group across the system and needs the support of the committee to accomplish this goal.
Benefits Committee Update
On Thursday July 12, 2012, the Benefits Committee convened in LAX to receive a presentation on the WCTPT, (Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust), from administrator Walter Pentz. Much information was given, and the plan administrator had some questions of his own. Through the Q&A process it was revealed our combined work group, s-CAL & s-UAL, has an average age of 51.1 yrs, posing a potential problem with the group being accepting into the Plan.
Later in the day the presentation was shared with the entire committee followed by another Q&A session.
As discussed in past updates, the multiemployer WCTPT is only ONE type of pension option being looked into as a viable negotiating position. Many factors will be taken into consideration before the committee will make a recommendation to all the members.
The Benefits Committee will be meeting to discuss the information gathered and make sure consultant, Pete Hardcastle has all the up to date info so an accurate comparison, including the WCTPT, can be completed.