Bill Kurtz, Business Manager | Jim Caternolo, Business Agent
Next Union Meeting: Tuesday, April 26th, 2022
IF YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING TEXT MESSAGES FROM LU13:
TEXT THE WORD “UNSTOP” TO THIS NUMBER: 877-515-8799
ELECTION TO FINISH BILL KURTZ’S TERM: The election date has changed to Tuesday, April 26th from 6am-6pm at UA Local 13 Union Hall, 1850 Mt. Read Blvd. The 2 candidates are John Carpenter & Jonathan Lipary. In case of a tie vote, the run-off election will be Thursday, May 12th from 6am-6pm at the same location. Please contact Alana through email (alanac@ualocal13.org) if you need to check your eligibility status.
To keep you informed, we need your current ADDRESS, CELL PHONE NUMBER & EMAIL ADDRESS. Please call the Union Hall with updated information. Please remember to update your Beneficiary info (with both the Union & Benefit Office) after any major life change, such as marriage, divorce, new children, etc.
***Local 13 is using the UNION STRONG APP to communicate instantly and directly with all our members. The app is FREE and will be used to send updates, notifications & important information. To get the app, text UALOCAL13 to 888-403-4140 to download & you will automatically be following our local!***
ROCHESTER RED WINGS TICKETS: Sign up sheets are available at the union hall (on Alana’s
office door)!! Stop in & sign up for a game (1 game per member)!!
RETIREES’ DUES UPDATE: As of 1/1/22, once you reach (40) years of continuous membership (no reinitiation fees), your dues rate will go from $20/month to $10/month. You must pay through the month of your initiation date before the rate will decrease. (50+ year members continue not having to pay dues.)
SAVE THE DATE(S):
Saturday, June 25th, 2022 – SEABREEZE PICNIC! Tickets ON SALE NOW at the union hall! Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 – RETIREES “Years of Service” pin ceremony.
Saturday, September 10th, 2022 – CLAMBAKE! At Long Acre Farms in Macedon.
UNEMPLOYMENT LIST: If you get laid off, please CALL Jim Caternolo at (585) 355-2244 or the main line, (585) 338-2360 ext. 113. Jim will then put your name on the list & the date that you informed him.
The best way to contact anyone in the office is through EMAIL:
Bill Kurtz: billk@ualocal13.org / (585) 338-2360 ext. 114
Jim Caternolo: jimc@ualocal13.org / (585) 338-2360 ext. 113
Jamie Arena: jarena@ualocal13.org
John Carpenter: johnc@ualocal13.org
Alana Colotti Allen: alanac@ualocal13.org
Bette Kwiatkowski: bettek@ualocal13.org
GET WELL SOON:
To any member that has tested positive for COVID-19. Get some rest & we hope you feel better soon!
To John Skye as he recovers from a recent hospital visit.
To Mike Fisher as he recovers from a recent car accident.
To Tom Goodall as he recovers at RGH from a recent stroke.
CONDOLENCES:
To Bob, Kyle, Colton & the entire Mattle family on the recent passing of Scott.
To Steve Arnold & family on the recent passing of his daughter, Holly.
To the Shoemaker family on the recent passing of Bob AKA “Shoe”.
To Randy Vermeulen & family on the recent passing of his mother, Ruth.
CONGRATULATIONS:
To Mark & Amy Gottermeier on the birth of their 2nd son, Chase Bernard, born on 3/17!!
To Bob & Kim Mattle on the birth of their 7th grandchild, Austin Rex James, born on 3/18!! Also, congrats to Uncle Kyle & Uncle Colton!!
To our newly initiated 2nd year apprentices: Mark Butler, Ben Coon, Anthony Cunningham, Collin Deisenroth, Joe Disalvo, Peter Disalvo, Nick Ferraro, Pat Hoffman, Chris Mattice, Jeremy Poliszuk, Jordan Putnam, Evan Quackenbush, River Reed, Colin Rossborough, Michael Saunders, Matthew Shields, Richard (Todd) Vervalin & Jason Visco!!
NEW RETIREES: April 1st – Michael Kalinowski, Robert Mueller, Scott Ranieri & Kirk Welsted
BENEFITS OFFICE
FUND ADMINISTRATOR – STEVE OSTRANDER
PLEASE BE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY DIRECTIVE REGARDING COVID-19 VIRUS & PERSONAL VISITS TO THE BENEFIT OFFICE.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE BENEFIT OFFICE WORKS DAILY WITH YOUR PERSONAL SENSITIVE INFORMATION. NO WALK IN TRAFFIC IS PERMITTED. THE ENTRANCE IS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES. ALL MEMBERS WISHING TO PERSONALLY MEET WITH BENEFIT OFFICE STAFF MUST CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE.
GENERAL NEWS
If you have information or documents that you are dropping off without an appointment, there is a stainless cabinet mailbox in the vestibule area of the building with labels for the Union Office (top slot) & Benefit Office (bottom slot). You may drop off any paperwork to us via this method. There is also a mail slot to the right of the main Benefit Office entrance door. Please call or e-mail us prior to your visit so we know that your items are here.
THE BENEFIT OFFICE IS AVAILABLE M-TH: 8:00am-4:30pm & FRIDAY: 8:00am-3:00pm. PLEASE CALL: 585-338-2310
Steve Ostrander: Ext 104 / sostrander@ualocal13.org
Tricia Marciano: Ext 106 / triciam@ualocal13.org
Debbi Edizel: Ext 107 / dedizel@ualocal13.org
STEVE OSTRANDER IS ALSO AVAILABLE VIA CELL PHONE (585) 354-6158. If it is a 911
matter, please call him anytime 24/7. Otherwise, please respect his business hours of availability.
INSURANCE FUND NEWS
INSURANCE HOUR BANK TO ANNUITY TRANSFER PROGRAM
Eligible Active members will be receiving a postcard in the mail around the 2nd week of May to enroll in this program. In order to be eligible a member needs to have an Hour Bank Balance of
$25,000 as of the May 1, 2022 Eligibility period. This program is only available for enrollment once a year. If you have any questions, please contact Tricia Marciano at 585-338-2310 x106 or at triciam@ualocal13.org.
Hour Bank Reimbursement—Automatic Claims Transfer
Did you know that you can enroll in Automatic Claims Transfer with Lifetime Benefit Solutions? This option is only available to Active Members enrolled in our Excellus Health Insurance Plan. You will not need to submit out-of-pocket claims under the U.A. Local 13 Medical Plan for reimbursement from your Hours Bank. Instead, Excellus BCBS will notify Lifetime Benefit Solutions whenever you or your dependents have a claim under our plan which results in out-of-pocket cost and Lifetime Benefit Solutions will automatically reimburse you for that amount. To enroll simply contact Lifetime Benefit Solutions Customer Service at 1-800-327-7130.
Adding New Dependents to Insurance Plan
Our plan allows 30 days from the date of event to add a spouse or newborn to our insurance plan. Please contact Tricia Marciano in the Benefit Office at 585-338-2310 x106 or triciam@ualocal13.org. DO NOT contact your employer; your insurance is administered through the Benefit Office.
ANNUITY FUND NEWS
Prudential Retirement is being acquired by Empower, the nation’s second largest retirement plan provider. The website, login credentials and the Participant Call Center phone number will remain the same. You may receive more information shortly by email or by mail. See the latest updates by logging in (or registering your account) at www.retirement.prudential.com.
In January, the Prudential Annuity Disbursement forms were revised to include 2022 Federal Marginal Rate Tables, and a worksheet to help determine the appropriate Federal tax withholding. Prudential’s Participant Call Center is available to assist members with questions regarding this IRS required section of the form. Their phone number is 1-877-778-2100.
Also, the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity explanation is now provided in the Prudential Retirement Loan and Disbursement forms.
As of November 5, 2021, all Prudential Annuity disbursements and loans have an 8-day waiting period from the date of the request before they can be processed/paid out. This is a rule that is imposed by the IRS. If you call in or go online to make the request, Prudential representatives will explain the wait period.
Please be advised that the Prudential Guaranteed Fund interest rate for the period January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 will be set at 1.65%.
ALL FUNDS
Address Changes—All Members
Please remember to update the Benefit Office of any address and phone number changes.
Beneficiary Forms—All Members
We can’t emphasize enough how critically important it is to have current beneficiary forms on file with this office. Your accounts, Pension, Annuity Balance, Life Insurance, Hour Bank Balance, or any other Benefit account WILL NOT be transferred to anyone without a current Beneficiary Form on file. If you decease, your family will be forced to begin legal proceedings to liquidate your accounts. An Executor will need to be established, Power of Attorney, an Estate will need to be created and so on. Your loved ones will not receive any funds belonging to you without all legal
measures being satisfied. If an Estate is not created, your funds may reside with NYS until such time they are deemed abandoned. Please update your beneficiary forms. DO NOT PUT IT OFF!! It is imperative when life changing events occur (i.e.: marriage, children, divorce). These forms are on our website in the Benefits Office section.
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING NEWS TRAINING COORDINATOR – JOHN CARPENTER
APPLICATIONS: 1st Tuesday of every month from 9:00am-11:00am & 1:00pm-3:00pm. Please view our website for more guidance.
BLUE BOOKS: Reminder to fill out your BLUE BOOKS daily and to have your Foreman sign them. Blue Books are a NYS DOL requirement and are YOUR responsibility.
WELDING/CONTINUITY: Open welding is on Monday nights from 5:00pm-8:00pm and Saturday mornings from 7:00am-11:00am. Continuity will be held on the 4th Tuesday in the ODD numbered months from 3:30pm – 5:00pm. There will be a weld test on Saturday, May 7th. Call John Carpenter to sign up.
COURSE REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUTSIDE TRAINING: Course Reimbursement Applications must be submitted by the member two (2) weeks prior to course date and must be approved by the JATC Board prior to reimbursement. Applications are available on our website: www.ualocal13.org. All applications must have back up paperwork explaining the course, fees, etc.
CLASSES: Anyone interested in taking classes in the fall must contact the training office in the month of June.
VETERANS: We had a nice turnout for our first gathering. We are planning another event for next month!
RETIREE NEWS
A delicious pasta, meatballs & sausage lunch in April, courtesy of Terry & Zeke! Carl Colotti & Dick Preston won the Wegmans gift cards. The next lunch is Tuesday, May 10th. It will be our first cookout of the year!! Feel free to bring a dish to pass. – Larry Tschetter/Terry Moore