STATE OF THE UNION

USW LOCAL 135

871-0941 871-0942

Election Results:
PRESIDENT- There will be a run off election between Mark Kurkowski[288 votes] and Mike Land[180 votes] May 1st and 2nd. They had the top two vote totals and our Bylaws state a majority 50%+1 must be achieved for an officers election.
Winners:

Vice president: Donald Sodaro

Secretary: James Sheridan

Financial Secretary: Thomas O'Shei

Treasurer: William Kinmartin
Guide: Cindy Gibson

Guards: Robert Delecki & Elgie Kightlinger

Trustees: Dave Evans, Mike Dobrzenski, Tammy Roeser

Policy Rep: Thomas O'Shei
Grievance Chairs:
Div. A: Kevin Gray

Div.B: Daniel Cook

Div.C: Dave Maciuba

Div.D: Rick Bimont

January 7, 2009

Benefits: You should have received your MEDCO card in the mail, which is your new prescription card. Please keep it with you. In effect starting January 1, 2009. YOU will need to call and activate your card. Have your Doctor information available- name, phone & fax number.Dental remains the same through Delta Dental.When need prescriptions, please use the white MEDCO card, or you prescriptions will be denied. The blue cross and blue shield that has the MEDCO Logo on the back is for diabetic supplies only. If you did not receive the MEDCO card- please call 1-866-544-3698.

Tom Norman will be retiring; James Sullivan will be replacing Tom Norman as Benefit Representative for the Union. We “Thank you” Tom for your “21”years as our Benefit Representative.

Frank Bystrzak has replaced Marty Bryniarski as time study representative.

Ron Goudy has been appointed by the ERT members for Lead Instructor on Mill Rescue.

Toy for Tots: Thank you to all who supported the Toys for Tots; we collected $1, 369.00.

Safety: Sign up for safety representatives is being posted in the departments. There is also a sign up sheet in the front of the safety office for “ERT”, members are needed on the weekends.

Resumes: We will be looking for a back-up for time study representative, those interested please put your name in at the Union Office, please note: Members will be required to take a test (math), which is given by the International.

We also need to replace TWO trustees, to replace members that have retired, if interested please put your name in at the Union Office, members must meet all eligibility requirements, (have been in good standing for a period of 24 months, and attended at least one- third of regular meetings held by the local in the past 24 months)This is a temporary position until April, when a regular election by the membership will take place. The duties shall be to audit the books in three months.

Cola: There will be “NO” COLA payout for January, next update will be in April of 2009. In April, if a COLA adjustment is to be made, they will be made as follows: For members not yet on new wage structure, whose rates remain higher than those on the new structure these cola’s will be made as a single payment.

Entertainment Chairman: Will be elected at the January Union Meeting, serving a one year term. If, more than one member is interested in Entertainment Chairman, an election will take place at the February Union meeting.

ICD: Please remember if interested in taking any type of course, stop and see Darlene at the ICD office, if she can get at least 5 members interested in also taking the course, she can set it up and it will be paid for though ICD. Going to school? See Darlene for tuition assistance. Watch the board for Yellow posting from her.

Unemployment Information:

When opening up a new claim, it must be done during that week that you are off- which is called the waiting week,

Q: How do I apply for Unemployment Insurance? (By Phone--1-888-209-8124- on line- is the best way)

A: You should apply for UI benefits using the on-line application- ( www.labor.state.ny.us ) between the hours of 7:30am to 7:30pm Monday through Thursday (Eastern Time), 7:30am to 5:00pm Friday, all day Saturday, and Sunday until 7:00pm.You may also call our Telephone Claims Center at 1-888-209-8124 for New York State residents (1-877-358-5306 for out-of-state residents) between 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. If you choose to file your claim by phone, an automated voice will offer you the choice of filing in English, Spanish, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Creole, or "all other languages" (translation services will be provided).Examples of questions: Reason for filing @- Lack of Work

Q: How do I claim my weekly benefits? – ONCE you are in the system- you will make a call or go on line in order for your claim to activate- 1-888-581-5812) This can be done on the sunday of the week ending---( week that you did not work) example- w-e 9/28/08- you did not work- you do not make a call until that day the 28th- or within the following week- before Friday we suggest.
A: You may claim your weekly unemployment benefits online using WEB-SERVICE. You may also use a touch-

tone telephone or a telephone with a pulse/tone switch by calling TEL-SERVICE at 1-888-581-5812 for New York State residents or 1-888-864-9920 for out of state residents.

TEL-SERVICE and WEB-SERVICE are available in both English and Spanish. Hearing impaired claimants who have TTY/TDD equipment can call 1-877-205-3119. Service at this number will only be provided to English and Spanish callers using TDD equipment. The certification systems process only a one week certification. You must request payment the first week following the week you wish to initiate a claim or on Sunday at the end of the week that you are claiming. You may claim your weekly benefits Monday through Friday from 7:30am until midnight and from 12:01am on Saturday until midnight on Sunday. Weekly claims made on Sunday are for the week ending that day. If you fail to complete a timely certification for any given week, you must write a letter to New York State Department of Labor, Central Support Unit, PO Box 15130, Albany, NY 12212. E-mails will not be accepted. The letter should include your name, address, telephone number, your Social Security number, the period for which credit is being requested, and the reason why you did not claim benefits for that period of time. The circumstances will be investigated and a determination will be made regarding eligibility for benefits. When using the telephone or online systems to claim your weekly benefits, you must certify yourself. Having someone else claim your weekly benefits for you could result in severe penalties. Information you need when filing:Federal Employer Identification number- 34-189-9137 Employer Address: 10 Sheridan Dr. Tonawanda, N.Y. 14150 Have your driver’s license available

Please make copies or write information down what is given to you- keep it in a safe place, so you will have your pin numbers and whatever information you will need in the future- it will save you a lot of time and headache.

Many of us received direct payment cards in the past—they are still activated, (good for 3 years) and they will benefit in the process of filing in the future. For members who have lost those cards you will need to call Chase Customer Service- at 1-877-221-1634- for a free replacement. If you have forgotten your pin number you will also need to call Chase to re set your number. This is a different pin number than the unemployment pin number. Can also be put into your checking account.

Q: What is considered work?
A: You are considered employed on any day when you perform any services - even an hour or less in self-employment, on a free-lance basis or for someone else. It makes no difference whether this work is in covered employment or whether you get paid for that day. For example, work on a straight commission basis is considered employment even though you may not receive the commission until some time later or even if no sales are made or any compensation received. activity which brings in or may bring in income at You must report all of the work you perform, whether it is for yourself, a friend, a relative or an employer. Any time must be reported. If you are involved in free-lance work, self-employment, starting a business or doing "favors" for another business, you should call the Telephone Claims Center and give all the details before claiming your weekly benefits.Some members have businesses and cannot file for unemployment- write a statement saying cannot file claim due to other employment- Name- badge- so you will be listed in system and if there is a sub payment- Company will have that statement. Hand it into Human Resources office or Payroll.

Cell phone numbers for the bargaining board: New numbers in which the bargaining board can be reached for Union issues, if you cannot reach members at the Union office please call them on their cell.

Kevin Gray--392-6223, Dan Cook—392-6222, Dave Maciuba-392-4082, Ray Priester—392-6221,

Mark Kurkowski—961-8603, Kathy Kluczynski- 392-3903

Please remember- 401 K loans--Court Orders-- Credit union loans—Life Insurance- will not be taken out

Medical payments will double up when we return to work

ALSO: Please make sure Company has your updated phone numbers when you have made changes in case of contact needed