Facts About the Goodyear Strike    Current Situation: More than 15,000 USW members have been on strike at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. since October 5. Workers from 15 facilities across the United States and Canada walked off the job to protest unfair contract proposals made by the company. Twelve of the facilities are in the U.S. and are covered under a master contract. Three Canadian facilities have separate contracts but also walked off the job in solidarity. Goodyear workers vow to hold out “one day longer” than the company to obtain a fair and equitable contract that provides reasonable job security and for a fair deal on retiree health care.    Crucial Issues for All: By forcing this labor dispute, Goodyear is attempting to wash its hands of its health care obligation to current and future retirees. This is unprecedented. Retired workers at Goodyear, many of whom face illnesses and medical conditions directly related to their jobs, would soon be left without health care insurance coverage if Goodyear has its way. If the company gets away with this, it will be bad news for all union workers struggling to maintain a decent standard of living for retirees. Also, the USW is fighting to keep employers like Goodyear from discarding North American production facilities in favor of low-wage overseas operations. This issue has far-reaching ramifications for all working people in North America.      Significant Events: In 2003, the union accepted wide-ranging concessions on wages, pensions and healthcare, and made the difficult decision to allow the closure of one tire plant. Union workers granted all of this to Goodyear in exchange for job security commitments that would protect our members and their families. In 2005, Goodyear posted its highest profits in seven years and gave top executives large bonuses. But in 2006, Goodyear broke its promise, announced the closure of the Tyler, Texas plant with 1,100 jobs and wants to take away even more from workers. On October 31, Goodyear brought in temporary replacement workers to take the jobs of union men and women.    The Company: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells tires and related products and services worldwide. The company manufactures rubber tires for automobiles, trucks, buses, aviation, motorcycle, farm implements, earthmoving equipment, industrial equipment, and various other applications. Goodyear also develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells belts and hoses for motor vehicles; conveyor and power transmission belts; rubber track for agricultural and construction equipment; and other products and services.    Goodyear: The company is headquartered at 1144 East Market Street, Akron, OH 44316-0001, phone, 330-796-2121, fax, 330-796-2222. The company employs about 80,000 people in 28 countries. It is publicly traded under the symbol GT. Robert J. Keegan is the CEO. Jonathan (Jon) D. Rich is the President of North American Tire.    One Day Longer: USW members at Goodyear are in this fight until Goodyear provides workers with security through investment at plants in North America, and keeps its promise to provide for workers after retirement by maintaining decent health care benefits for retirees and their spouses. The issues in this strike are universal for all union workers. Ultimately, the outcome of USW v. Goodyear will have an impact on every worker, both in the US and abroad. The sheer size of this dispute means that the whole world is watching. In coming years, the strength of Organized Labor may be judged by the outcome of this single strike. That’s why the USW and its members are using all our influence and resources to win. Former Steelworker President George Becker Dies "If you destroy a man's dignity, you will lose his respect. Power can be purchased, respect must be earned." Pittsburgh February 4, 2006 -- George Becker, a second-generation steelworker who became the sixth international president of the United Steelworkers (USW), died Saturday at his home in Gibsonia, Pa., surrounded by his family, following a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 78... more

The below postings are information as to  benefits after our return to work

401K Loans:

Nobody will go into default on their 401K loans due to the lack of payment during the strike, unless they want to.

If the loan payments are not caught up by the end of January, JP Morgan will  

re-amortize the payments over the remaining loan period.

Anyone with a re-amortized loan payment will be contacted by JP Morgan regarding the new payment terms

Anyone that wants their loan to default MUST contact JP Morgan before the

re-amortization occurs

 

Delta Dental Plan:

The Delta Dental Plan was reactivated as of

January 2, 2007

 No claims will be paid between October 5, 2006 and January 2, 2007, unless the Dental COBRA Plan has been purchased

If you have questions regarding the Dental COBRA Plan, please contact the Union Hall

 

Optional Life Insurance:

Nobody will have their Optional Life Insurance Plan canceled due to lack of premium payment during the strike.

Starting March 1, 2007, and continuing for four months, Goodyear will automatically deduct any owed back payments from the pay checks.

If you want to cancel your coverage, you must contact Minnesota Life but, you will  be responsible for any owed back premiums

 

Vision Care:

Although the contractual vision care benefit levels have not changed, there is a change in the provider network

EyeMed (Cole Vision) has changed their network.  There are fewer “in-network” providers but if you choose to use one of these providers you will have less money to pay out of pocket.

If a provider chooses not to participate in the new network, they will probably make you pay up front and file your own claim for reimbursement.

 

Medical COBRA Payments:

Reimbursements for any Medical COBRA premiums paid for the month of January will be reimbursed by Goodyear as soon as administratively possible

 

 Spousal Insurance Reimbursements:

 The Spousal Insurance reimbursements for the fourth quarter of 2006 should be completed by the end of this week.  It will be on a separate check.

 

Express Scripts Prescription Plan:

Express Scripts will notify anyone who is taking a medication for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease that is affected by the new fourth tier prescription co-payment level in the P&I Agreement

- Also -

There are some pharmacies (very few in the State of Kansas) that are not recontracting with Express Scripts.  These pharmacies will be considered as out-of-network and claims processed accordingly.

 

Eligibility Changes:

Goodyear will allow certain eligibility changes (similar to an open enrollment) through the end of January, including:

 Changes in your medical premium status due to dependent eligibility changes

Enrollment in the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

These changes MUST be made on a “special” Family Status Change Form

Goodyear says that ANY family status changes MUST still be reported within 31 days of the event