Local Union News
REFERRAL LIST
All members that want to remain on the
referral list, ready for work, must call or sign into the hall within thirty (30) days of
their original sign-in date or will be dropped off the referral list automatically.
When you accept work, or when you are laid off, you must notify the
hall immediately . Call the hall and you will be put back
on the referral list. If all the criteria is met you will be assigned the same slot. If
the criteria is not met you will be assigned a new
slot.
Your name will fall off the list on the 30th day so please make every effort to call in before your 30 day sign in (every three weeks) so you do not fall off the list.
If you require a copy of the referral list please call the local office at 452-3556 or toll free at 1-877-866-3556.
2007 DUES NOTICE TO ALL OUR MEMBERS
Effective January 1, 2007 the Monthly Dues for ACTIVE MEMBERS shall be $26.00 per month
January 1, 2008 - $26.00
January 1, 2009 - $27.00
January 1, 2010 - $28.00
January 1, 2011 - $29.00
Effective January 1, 2007 the Hourly Dues and Building and Defense Contributions shall be increased to a total of 4.9% of gross wages
Effective January 1, 2007 monthly dues for RETIRED MEMBERS shall remain at $8.00 per month.
Effective January 1, 2007 the Initiation Fee charged to an individual who desires to become a member of a local union affiliated with the Laborers District Council of Western Pennsylvania shall be $600.00
Readmission charge for any suspended member shall be $48.00 per month for every month in arrears based on the $600.00 amount plus the current months dues
The monthly dues are due on the first day of the month and unless paid on or before the last day of the following month, the members shall be deemed suspended by the International Union without notice.
A member shall not be subject to a suspension for an employers failure to remit the members dues to the Union where the member has executed a valid, voluntary dues check-off authorization card and where the employer has deducted those dues from the members wages.
READMITTED MEMBERS SHALL BE CONSIDERED NEW MEMBERS FROM THE DATE OF THEIR READMISSION. PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR DUES LAPSE
LABORERS' UNION MEETING
The Regular monthly meeting is held on the third Wednesday of every month at the Erie Labor Temple Building, 1701 State St., 3rd Floor at 8:00 p.m.
We strongly encourage all members to attend.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
The Edinboro University Charles D. Buzzanco Scholarship Applications for the 2008-2009 academic years are now available. This endowment was created with funds from Laborers Local 603 and Associated General Contractors to provide for the continuing education of union members and their dependents. You must be a member of Laborers Local 603 for a minimum of one (1) year or his/her dependent child. Enroll for a minimum of six (6) credit hours of study at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania during each term of scholarship funding. Complete a scholarship application and demonstrate competitive academic achievement. Financial need may be a consideration but is not a limiting factor.
Awards from the Charles D. Buzzanco Scholarship are to be made from the interest earned by the endowment. The amount of money that is available and the number of recipients selected will determine award amounts.
Applications can be obtained by calling the Local office at 452-3556 or 1/877-866-3556 and must be submitted to later than 4:30 p.m Friday, April 17, 2009.
WELFARE BENEFITS
Effective January 1, 2008 The Laborers District Council of Western PA switched medical benefits from United Healthcare to Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Please check the website at www.highmarkbcbs.com or contact customer service toll free at 1/866-594-1732 to check for your specific doctors to see if they are covered under United Healthcare prior to your appointment. The co-payment for the doctor is still $5.00 per visit, $10.00 for a specialist and there is a $50.00 co-payment for ER Visits. The prescription drug program is a three-tiered co-payment formulary of $5 for generic drugs, $10 for Brand Name, and $25 for Brand Name not on the formulary. If you have any questions regarding your insurance benefits you may contact either Priscilla Cook or Dennis Sarnowski at the Laborers Combined Funds Office toll free at 1-800-242-2538.
Many of you have questions regarding the Vision Insurance. The Vision Insurance is not provided through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield it is handled through Spectera, Inc. (which is owned by United Heathcare) it is located in Baltimore, Maryland. For a listing of participating vision care providers nearest you please visit their website at www.spectera.com or call toll free 1/800-638-3120.
LABORERS TRAINING SCHEDULES
The Laborers Training Schedules are published on a monthly basis. It is very important to get trained and certified. Contractors are becoming very skill oriented and many of the available jobs require certifications. PENNDOT now requires that everyone be certified for flagging so make sure that if you are interested in a flagging position that you get certified. Please make every effort to get trained during the winter months. If you have any questions or need a schedule you can call the local office, the Training Center toll free at 1/800-442-8868 or visit their website at www.laborpa.org