SUPREME COURT BLOCKS VAX OR TEST BIDEN MANDATE FOR ALL BUT HEALTH CARE WORKERS President Niccollai reported today that the Biden Mandate requiring all Employers with 100 or more employees to implement a program for proof of vaccination or weekly COVID testing will not go into effect except for Health Care workers.  Many of our Brothers and Sisters were extremely upset by this mandate and numerous questions arose as to who would pay for the testing and whether it could be performed at store-level by a third-party.  For the time being, we will not have to grapple with all the problems...
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022 HEALTH INSURANCE WILL REIMBURSE FOR AT-HOME COVID TESTS President Niccollai announced today, on behalf of the Union Reimbursement Medical Plan, that there will be a modification to cover the cost of At-Home COVID Tests for members and their eligible dependents under a program requiring the submission of a claim form, accompanied by a receipt acknowledging proof of purchase.   These tests are not appropriate for unvaccinated members to submit to Employers in order to comply with the Biden vax or test mandate, since they are not administered by a third-party as...
UPDATE ON COVID TESTING FOR NON-VACCINATED MEMBERS As we get closer to the February 9, 2022 deadline for employees either being vaccinated or tested, we continue negotiations with our Employers.   Obviously, as we stated in our previous posting of December 30, 2021 we are vehemently opposed to the cost of the tests being paid by the employee. In our discussions with Employers, we are exploring any and all options that will allow us to reach a satisfactory course of action.  As the deadline approaches, we expect to agree on a proposal which is in the best interest of our members...
THURSDAY - DECMEBER 23, 2021 As we regress over the past year, many of us view it as “A Trip to Hell and Back Again”. First the Omega variant of Covid-19 and now the Omicron variant, but these are not the thoughts we should be having during this holiday season.  We should count our blessings and all the things for which we are thankful for like: Our loving Family and friends. The true meaning of this time of year, whether it be religious or just our belief in the good within our fellow man. Our excellent Union jobs under our new contracts, with higher wages, no copay medical and strong...