May 2024 Pipewrench

PIPEWRENCH —Your Communication Pipeline

SPRING EDITION

Inside This Issue:

• Health & Wellness - You are No Longer Alone
• SUB Benefits - Trade School Reminder
• Keeping Us Informed
• GreenShield - Strike Update
• Check Your Hours

A Message From the Board of Trustees

Dear Member,
As we move from Winter to Spring, Summer will fast approach. In this Pipewrench, we’ve provided some “tips” when submitting SUB claims, Enrollment forms and reviewing your quarterly Benefit Statement. Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness month? Taking care of the mental health of our members and their dependents is important!

May you and your families enjoy the spring weather, soon to be summer.

Sincerely,

“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.”

— Angela Duck-worth, psychologist

Health & Wellness

YOU ARE NO LONGER ALONE

Mental Health Week: May 6-12, 2024 - www.youarenolongeralone.com
Addiction and suicide rates within the Construction Trades are the highest across employment sectors in Canada but, addiction and suicide effects all employment sectors; workforce, productivity and financial costs. The Ministry of Labour conducted research, and identified the Five Drivers of addiction (substance abuse) and suicide. These are not unique to the Construction trades and concluded that we all have a role to play in “shifting the culture”.

The Five Drivers are:

1. Work habits and schedule ( up to 49%)
2. Personal Relations (up to 47%)
3. Stress, Anxiety and Depression (up to 41%)
4. Finances (up to 44%)
5. Discrimination and Abuse (up to 26%)

You Are No Longer Alone serves as a resource hub for national and provincial resources while providing addiction, mental health and suicide prevention education. Both Em-ployers and Employees have responsibilities.

You Are No Longer Alone—Resource Hub represents standing up to combat addiction and mental health issues within the construction industry, where individuals struggling may often feel alone. Shedding light on substance use and mental health issues within the construction industry, allows us to highlight what is available, accessible and effective supports.

SUB Benefits

REMINDER

Weekly Income Benefit Amount	$175 per week, up o the Annual Maximum
SUB Plan Benefit	Taxable
Annual Maximum	10-weeks per calendar year* *Exceptions: Weeks, where you attended a J.A.T.C. approved training course or a trade school related to your trade, are not counted towards your annual maximum.
To Qualify for SUB you Must Earn	1,800 SUB hours in the previous 24 months
To Requalify for SUB you Must Earn	600 SUB hours in the previous 12 months

For those members in Trade School— Your Verification of Attendance issued by your College or a Local other than Local 67 is what we need. The letter must include the following:

• Your Full Name
• The Program Name
• The Type of Program
• The Academic Level
• The Start and End Date of the Semester

Moving? New Spouse? Adding a Child etc?

It is your responsibility to advise Reliable Administrative Services Inc. (RASI) when there is a change in your family status, it is critical to notify your plan administrator (RASI) of life events, such as a change in address, and to know your options during retirement. As well, how less common events could impact your benefits if your information is not up to date on your Welfare and/or Pension Enrolment / Change Form. Call RASI at (905) 387-5861 or email local67@reliableadmin.com

GreenShield - Update on Strike

As you may know Unifor Local 673 and Local 240 GreenShield Canada went on strike March 1, 2024. During the strike, GreenShield’s Call Centre will remain closed, however, their online services, where almost 95% of the claims are typically submitted, will continue to be available and will not be impacted by the Unifor strike. GreenShield recognizes that the Unifor strike may impact their ability to meet their high service standards but meeting the needs of our membership remains their number one priority.

We encourage you to use these services where possible, as GreenShield works to mitigate any service impacts. In the mean-time, RASI is available to help you where we can. Call or email the RASI office for assistance.

Benefit Statements - Check Your Hours!

Your employer is required to contribute to the applicable Welfare, Pension and SUB Plans. Contributions are made for each hour that you earn. Member Benefit Statements are sent to the Membership quarterly. It is imperative that you check the hours contributed on your behalf against your payroll stub.

If there is a discrepancy in the contributed hours, or if your Employer has failed to remit, please contact RASI immediately.