Over the past two months, each IBEW 1245 unit was tasked with voting on two amendments to the Local Union Bylaws related to new and improved accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) and death benefits available to members and their families. View the details here.
The final unit meeting vote took place on September 27, 2016. The amendments were overwhelmingly approved by every unit, and the vast majority voted unanimously in favor of these changes. After adding up the votes from all of the unit meetings, the bylaws amendment ultimately passed by a vote of 1,096 YES to 10 NO.
The benefit plan administrator is currently working with Business Manager Tom Dalzell and IBEW 1245 staff to set up an explanation of these new benefits, and enrollment is scheduled to begin in October, 2016. More information and instructions on enrollment will be posted on the IBEW 1245 website as soon as it becomes available.
Background
In the second half of 2015, a number of units made motions to propose an increased death benefit. The IBEW Local Union 1245 Executive Board requested that Business Manager Tom Dalzell investigate options, and Dalzell worked with Local 1245 do so.
After reviewing several insurance options, the union ultimately settled on the purchase of a fully insured product. Keeping in mind the unit proposals were likely prompted by the accidental death of a member that occurred in 2015, the union negotiated a new $25,000 AD&D policy, which will offer 24-hour coverage for all active members. Local 1245 also negotiated a significantly improved death benefit plan, which will increase the benefit from $1,000 to $2,500, and still keep a $500 benefit for spouses, for about the same cost as the old death benefit policy.
There will be no increase in union dues for these added benefits.
IBEW 1245 will also be able to offer members three other optional insurance policies which will add value for many of our members. Optional insurance policies include Disability, Accident, and Critical Illness. All three are “guaranteed issue” which means they require no medical questions if you enroll during the initial open enrollment in the Fall of 2016.
The death and AD&D benefit plans will be fully paid for by IBEW 1245. The three optional policies can be purchased by members during open enrollment 2016.
In July, the IBEW Local Union 1245 Executive Board unanimously approved these options to be voted on by our members at unit meetings in August and September. View the E-Board letter here. The end result was overwhelming approval for the bylaws change. The enhanced Death benefit and the new Accidental Death and Dismemberment is scheduled to go into effect in January, 2017.