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BROTHER HOOD OR A BUST THE UBC

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Wednesday, March 30, 2022

"SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS TO THE MEMBERS" YOUR ARSE..AFTER THE SEIZURE OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNCIL UBC MEMBERS ARE HIT WITH "SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES"

 "AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS TO THE MEMBERS-INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BETTER OVERSIGHT OF THE COUNCILS OPERATIONS,REDUCING COSTS AND MAXIMIZING AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND INCREASING MARKET COMPETITIVENESS I HAVE DETERMINED IT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF MEMBERS"
 
LOVE,
DIRTY DOUG MCCARRON
 

 
 
 "BEST INTERESTS OF MEMBERS"


The financial mismanagement of the former St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters’ Regional Council by disgraced former Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Al Bond, is starting to trickle its way downward. Only a few months after being absorbed by the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, Trustees of the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Health and Welfare Fund have levied enormous penalties on rank-in-file members. In March, Trustees announced that Healthcare Bluebook, a service that allowed members to select procedures at medical centers via price, had been eliminated. Healthcare Bluebook was designed to encourage members to actively participate in protecting the financial strength of the St. Louis-Kansas City Health and Welfare Fund by providing a portion of any medical procedure savings to the member. Nevertheless, it has been eliminated.

Additional adverse changes were dropped on unsuspecting members this week. On Tuesday, members started to receive notice that there will be substantial increases in the man-hours needed to qualify for health insurance. For example, the hours needed to have quarterly insurance coverage extended through the following benefit quarter went up 20 percent. Yes, you read that correctly. Each member will now need 360 man-hours in a quarter to receive health insurance for the succeeding quarter. Under the old format, a member working 300 hours in a quarter would qualify for coverage in the next health quarter.

Changes to the Plan Year Rule also increased by 20%, from 1300 man-hours to 1560 man-hours. Essentially, the plan is requiring members to increase their work hours by almost seven 40-hour work weeks over the calendar year to receive a 6-month extension of insurance into the ensuing year. To make matters worse, under the old format, members who worked 1300 hours in a plan year would receive an extension of benefits for 10 to 12 months. The changes made punish members in two ways. In short, a 20% increase in contributions will net you a 6-month loss in continuing benefit coverage.

After two years of Covid-19 and man-hours decreasing across the board, the Trustees decided to further punish members who relied upon the self-pay option. It is the self-pay option that allows members to cover lapses in their respective work hours. The plan will now require members requiring the self-pay option to pay the difference on the newly implemented 360 quarterly hour requirement, rather than the old 300-man hours. To be certain, the self-pay option was already expensive for members who faced job losses due to Covid-19 and its ensuing fallout. The newly implemented increase will make it very hard for members to justify making minimum difference payments. Thus, leaving economically stressed members to deal with potential health issues without health coverage.

In an attempt to be fair, I concur that Covid-19 negatively effected the Health and Welfare Fund. Covid-19 related medical costs were something new to the plan, meanwhile, man-hours were reduced via Covid-19 related work rules. In fact, the Trustees describe a loss of $15 million dollars in 2021 health and welfare fund revenue that they directly attribute to Covid-19’s workplace limitations.

However, the Trustees fail to take responsibility for mistakes they made. For instance, despite expanding coverage a few years ago, the Trustees failed to increase hourly contributions for the fund. The health and welfare fund has not realized a contribution increase in three years. Further hindering the financial propriety of the health and welfare fund is an expenditure made in Kansas City, Missouri. The project lacked the required Department of Labor paperwork and spits in the face of fiduciary duty. This project can only be described as an utter failure. The Kansas City Wellness Center, completed in August of 2021, has yet to see a single patient. Let me repeat myself, a multi-million-dollar building has been sitting empty for over seven months, without treating a single member. Meanwhile, the costs to operate the building are passed along to the health and welfare fund. Not surprisingly, I have been told by a reputable source that the facility will not see patients until 2023 at best. Why are the members being punished for the poor decisions of labor and management Trustees?

Lastly, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners General President, Douglas J. McCarron, admitted to members that the Trustees, under Al Bond’s leadership, had paid investment fees that were substantially higher than what was necessary and/or common. To be specific, McCarron stated $21 million dollars was paid out, when $6 million would have been appropriate. Why are these poor decisions not being addressed? Why are the Trustees who created the current situation still Trustees? Once again, leadership fails, and the members suffer.  

JON GOULD


 

 

13 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:37 PM

    Someone has to bring them to court this is why Philly plans have not changed while everyone other local in the EAS along with our leadership went along with what frank spencer wanted.
    Guarantee the mup Case has them scared and don’t let them fool you many think it wasn’t a court ruling many believe they withdrew the mup for ucan for the members.
    Good luck making your hours don’t believe any reps from New Jersey don’t believe international reps especially ray Burgas

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7:20 PM

    Why would you remain a member of this Organization?? You could renovate kitchens and baths and make $250,000 a year vs work for a signatory contractor who under pays and over works you mean while your benefits keep costing more and declining in value.

    Hey EAS members guess what’s in your future??? Increased man hour work requirements, increased benefit costs, reduced benefits. It’s coming.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous8:53 PM

    As of this Friday l EAS members will have to pay 10% of all their visits to Dr's ER, etc. They will also have a $1000 for single and $2000 for family deductibles before your fully covered covered. How does this benefit the members?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:13 AM

      Guess it sounded better than we are upping your cost by 1000-2000. Along with ‘this helps the fund.”
      You think the reps have same plan don’t think they don’t free healthcare when they retire.

      Don’t believe they don’t get a yearly bonus

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:50 AM

      It isnt about the members. It hasn't been since the hostile, unwarranted, illegal takeover.

      Get your money out where you can.
      It isn't getting any better any time soon.
      Even the apprentices are fleeing.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous8:55 PM

    https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/camden/norcross-group-files-suit-demanding-release-of-republic-first-records/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:24 AM

      Meanwhile norcross irs tax fraud committed against the state of new jersey and the " theft" of ( allegedly) federal dollars goes unchecked. This again is the pattern of vindictive petty criminal behavior using lawfare and smear to destroy ppl he has a beef with. The last example was using Frank Spencer Norcross mafia puppet to remove ed senior and later johnny doc ( you think the feds weren't tipped off by George?)
      Norcross influence and enterprises are powerful and his childlike pettiness has no limits.
      Look carefully at our healthcare. Follow the plans and decisions back to the root cause. You will see Norcross " influenced" these scams from an underwriting position.
      Currently our Benes are at @32 a mh.
      Do the math. Where is ALLLL that hc money going?

      Used to be " ohh we are covering the retirees....until of course they started charging retirees and their spouse or fam mbr"...
      Do the math.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous5:44 AM

    some one sue billy sproles. for breach of fidiuacry duty !

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous7:20 AM

    That’s not going to happen here in Philadelphia. James Hocker has our back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:04 AM

      Hocker is patting your back to find the next place to stick a knife.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous4:58 AM

    now thats funny. !!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous5:01 AM

    just like macarron surrounds himself with idiots to look good so does billy sprolles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:20 AM

      surrounds himself with a paid protectorate..

      character, integrity, all sold for a meagre price ..

      the real leaders left... or where pushed out..in case you didnt notice ..

      mike hand was NOT one of those .. to clarify

      judas iscariot

      Delete

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