Frequently Asked Questions – Teamsters Trust

Q. If we don’t join the Teamsters Trust in 2010 can we in 2011?

A. We will have to be re-approved.

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Q. Will the deductibles we’ve paid towards 2010 under our current plan be portable to the Teamster’s Plan?

A. No

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Q. Are Domestic Partners covered under the Teamster Trust?

A. Yes, Trust guidelines and affidavit form must be submitted along with proof of domestic partnership for those wishing to enroll a domestic partner.

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Q. What about part-time employees in the Teamster Trust?

A. If we write our contract requirements and the County agrees that contributions will be made on employees that have 80 or more compensable hours in a month, then any employee with less than 80 hours would not be eligible to participate.  Keep in mind those 20 hours per week averages 86.67 hours per month (20 x 52/12).  18 hours per week would average less than 80 per month (18 x 52/12=78).  79 hours per month is 18.23 hours per week (79 x 12 / 52).

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Q. What about those that want to stay on Group Health if we move to Teamster Trust?

A. The Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust is still trying to work out some other arrangement with Group Health Cooperative.  In the meantime, however, I wanted to make sure you had a summary of the current Group Health Cooperative plan that is available to Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust participants as an option to the Trust Plan A (see attached).  The 2010 composite family rate premium which Group Health charges for this plan is $1,515.92 per month.  The Trust Plan A rate is $933.00, which means that a participant electing this Group Health plan through the Trust would have to pay the $582.92 difference to Group Health each month to have the plan.

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Q. Why can’t we choose Teamsters or the County plans, why do we need to select one or the other?

A. Both the Teamsters Trust and the County plans require an all or nothing selection for the entire group.

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Q. What will happen with our grievance and the unfair labor practice filed, if we settle?

A. Right now both processes are ongoing and have not been settled. We will continue to pursue both avenues towards settlement.

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Q. What groups at Piece County are moving or have moved to Teamsters?

A. As we understand it all the represented groups have decide to move or are moving, except the Council 2 group, Operating Engineers and Local 17 have not voted yet.