Group Life, Health and Dental Plan Update
UFCW CANADA LOCAL 1006A is encouraging all full-time workers at Swiss Chalet restaurants to keep the negotiated benefits that they are entitled to by remaining a member of the Group Life, Health and Dental Plan.“If you work 24 hours or more, you are full-time at Swiss Chalet and are entitled to the many benefits this Plan offers,” said Frank Ragni, Executive Assistant to the President.
These benefits include:
- Life Insurance
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
- Prescription Drug benefits
- Dental benefits
- The ability to co-ordinate benefits to receive 100% coverage
“One of the best things you can do for yourself and your co-workers is to remain part of the Group Life, Health and Dental Plan,” said Wayne Hanley, President of UFCW Canada Local 1006A. “This is a plan of tremendous benefit to our members and their families."
Under your union contract, all full-time workers are automatically enrolled in the Plan with the employer paying 100% of the cost.
Some employers are telling part time workers that they can get full-time status as long as they do not join the Plan, or employees are being told they don’t need the Plan if they are covered under their spouse’s plan. Others are being told if they come off the Plan, they can join again anytime. This is simply not true. In fact, they will need to wait a full year before being eligible to access the Plan.
“It’s short-sighted since some employers think they can save money by reducing the number of people in the Plan,” said Ragni. “In fact, the opposite is true. The less people that are in the Plan, the more expensive it is. For short-term gain, the employers will end up paying more in the long-run.”
If you are approached by management trying to discourage you belonging to the Plan, inform them that it is your right and preference to join or remain in the Plan and immediately contact your union rep informing them the interaction. Depending on the situation, your union may file a grievance to protect you, because at the end of the day, it’s your right to enjoy the negotiated benefits of your Group Life, Health and Dental Plan.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your union rep. They will be happy to help.
