CWA Retired Members Chapter 81359-Waterford, NY

03/26/2021

Pension Plan De-Risking Information Webinar

April 7 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm--FREE

ALL Documents & The VIDEO Recording are here-- https://www.geretireesolutions.org/events/

GE Retiree Benefit Solutions has uploaded the schedule of our upcoming events and activities. Browse our calendar today! We have included the dates and venues so that you can plan ahead if you want to participate in one. For more information, please reach out to us or visit our website.

03/20/2021

REMEMBER...If you are also a GE Retiree from Momentive; we at GE Retiree Benefit Solutions can help--go take a look...if you find what we offer helpful, Please Register at our Formal Website at-- https://geretiresolutions.org/log-in/; scroll down to the Registration Form and Join Us!

We are in the Final Stages of finalizing a Group Healthcare Plan for Post-65 Retirees/Dependents--More to Come Soon--Keep checking back at our website!

01/31/2021

I was asked the Question-- "How do we sign on to Momentive pension web site to get your W-2. Seems every year it’s a different site?'

I called the Pension Center and was told--W-2's would not be Online, ONLY mailed; by Feb. 15th. The new number I was given for thee Momentive Pension Center was-- 855-246-4263.

Here's the Login to the Momentive Pension Center-- https://auth.myplansconnect.com/mome06/login ; then you see a Verification screen--

12/29/2020

12/11/2019

Please Get Engaged in This--We Need This--For Seniors/Retirees-- From NCPSSM

"Lower Drug Costs Act of 2019"

This bill would significantly reduce seniors' drug expenses by empowering Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower drug prices, currently forbidden under law. In addition, it would tie U.S. drug prices to those paid by other wealthy countries and cap price increases to the rate of inflation. And, among many other important measures, it would include dental, vision and hearing benefits to Medicare, services that aren't currently covered in traditional Medicare.

https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/Bills-116hr3hi_intro%2009.19.2019_Lower%20Drug%20Costs%20Now.pdf

11/01/2019

Take a Look--We were shown a sample of GE's Next Retiree Newsletter, at the Fall Meeting-on October 23, 2019-- Take a look a this resource (will be in the GE Retiree Newsletter coming)--GE Retirees Website-- https://www.ge.com/retirees

11/01/2019

REMINDER: Medicare Open Enrollment--October 15th to December 7th, 2019---Updated Medicare Plan Finder
https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/ #/?utm_campaign=20191030_oep_mpf_gal&utm_content=english&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&lang=en

10/19/2019

Interview with the Times Union, in Albany, NY on the Pension Freeze--I did a small part--President Phelps --

https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/As-GE-freezes-pensions-employees-rethink-their-14509775.php

John Phelps gives General Electric's current CEO, Larry Culp, the benefit of the doubt....

10/19/2019

GE's Bold Move--Pension Plan Freeze & Buyouts--Details

October is already shaping up to be an interesting month for the management team and investors of industrial conglomerate General Electric (GE). A press release issued by the company detailed a three-step plan aimed at shoring up capital and further reducing the company's leverage. This involves freezing the firm's pension plan, which effectively will
short-change some of the company's employees, but the end result, for it as a whole, will be billions of dollars in savings. While it remains to be seen if there will be any additional moves on this front, these initial steps by the firm, though horrible for the affected individuals, should be seen as a boon for shareholders.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4295980-general-electrics-bold-move?dr=1

10/19/2019

Good Article about Apollo Management & What They Do to Companies! Remember--this, at Momentive!

During Sambur's tenure as a board member Hexion's "Total Outstanding Debt" peaked around $3.8 billion and never dropped below $3.4 billion, Hexion's Total Outstanding Debt-to-EBITDA ratios ranged from 5.1 in 2010 to a high of 21.9. The high debt levels from this time lingered into Hexion's reorganization period. Hexion stated in its Chapter 11 reorganization first day pleadings: "The Debtor's high leverage and burdensome debt-service have created the current situation. The Debtors are over nine times levered relative to their 2018 segment EB/TOA and face annual debt service in excess of $300 million. As debt service has remained high, liquidity has become a critical issue."
https://www.diamondresortswatch.org/davidsambur/?fbclid=IwAR2rUJmB3xJJ_vdmPT9sZdrph4ah-Y3sPxUZaDIvn43HMkF7M1_udtUueUI

10/07/2019

Keeping GE Pensioners/Retirees, from Momentive, Informed-- GE Pension Plan FREEZE for Salaried Workers (not Hourly)-20,000 US Workers; and Some Lump Payments will be Offered to about 100,000 Retirees/Pensioners-- Here is a document (PDF), with a number of informative articles/links--Please Read!! Be Informed!

Go Here---and get the Document/PDF-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/geretireebenefitsolutions/permalink/2361456724172673/

07/23/2019

Update from GE on Contract Negotiations--7/22/2019

We wanted to share a quick update with you on the Coordinated Bargaining Committee (CBC) vote.

We have agreed to meet with leaders from the CBC unions that have yet to vote to discuss and answer questions about the contract package. The participating unions include the IAM, IBEW, UAW, IFPTE, and USW, and the meetings will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Louisville, Ky. These unions have indicated that they will hold their member votes as early as Friday, July 26. We look forward to the discussion and our employees getting the opportunity to vote on the proposed contract.

We are continuing discussions with IUE-CWA leadership separately on next steps and look forward to a re-vote taking place. The contract negotiated provides solid wage increases and improved benefits for employees, which is why the IUE-CWA endorsed it and a majority of their members voted in favor of the package.

https://www.ge.com/unionnegotiations

07/22/2019

Update from Union Negotiation Team on GE Contract--7/19/19

The IUE-CWA Bargaining Committee has been in Dayton, Ohio this week working on demands for when we return to the bargaining table with GE. We have spent the week analyzing the ratification vote and reviewing our members’ concerns. We have spoken directly with some local Executive Boards on key issues for their memberships. It is accurate that certain benefits such as the Supplements to the Pension and SERO/PCPO have expired. While the bargaining team will fight hard to recover any and all expired benefits, the contract rejection has had an impact on benefits. We appreciate the IUE-CWA membership’s patience and support as we work hard to rectify the situation. We will of course post any updates on next steps as they occur.

06/27/2019

June 27, 2019--From Your "Solutions" Organization--
FULL COVERAGE of GE-Union Tentative Agreement--2019-2023-- Check it out on our "Solutions" Dedicated Page.

Retiree Rally Video; Newspaper Articles; PDF's/Documents--Summaries & the Whole Tentative Agreement--for You to Watch & Read.

https://ragehcc.org/ge-union-contract-2019-news/

GE-Union Contract 2019 News GE-Unions Negotiations Overview–for 2019-2023 Tentative Contract Ratification Vote Coming up–By June 3rd, 2019   Revised: Union Negotiations Update with Paul Lalli, June 24, 2019 We’re excited to announce that GE and the Coordinated Bargaining Committee (CBC) concl...

05/29/2019

From Mercer--May 23, 2019

DIY Mental Health: Survey Finds Employers Taking Action to Improve Access to Care

Job-related stress and depression/anxiety are the top workforce behavioral health (BH) concerns for employers, according to a new Mercer survey of 523 employers.

https://www.mercer.us/our-thinking/healthcare/survey-finds-employers-taking-action-to-improve-access-to-care.html

Job-related stress and depression/anxiety are the top workforce behavioral health (BH) concerns for employers, according to a new Mercer survey of 523 employers.

05/20/2019

GE Retirees from the Waterford Plant

Check out our "GE Benefit 'Solutions' & Advocacy" Website

https://ragehcc.org

03/17/2019

We INVITE ALL GE Retirees/Dependents to Join us at https://ragehcc.org, and at our Facebook Group, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/geretireebenefitsolutions/

Retiree Benefit Solutions & Advocacy

03/01/2019

Union (UE 506, UE 618) Authorized a Strike Today
Against Wabtec (formerly GE Locomotives/Transportation)

Please Sign this Petition-- https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-wabtec-respect-the-rights-of-workers/?link_id=0&can_id=5071e2b5de53b05b1c4e2f6f48dfeb35&source=email-on-strike-4&email_referrer=email_503559&email_subject=on-strike

Add your name to stand with the 1,700 workers in Erie, PA on strike against Wabtec’s blatant attempt to undermine the right of workers everywhere