Complete your ERTS registration. Too many of you have not.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Only the employer Benefit Fund contributions made on your behalf while working outside of the Local 697 jurisdiction, that’s all.

Hello, Hallo, Dia Dhuit, Halla & Bonjour!
Why the multi-language salutations, you ask? Well, for one, we thought it would be interesting to welcome you to this month’s newsletter in the various and predominant “tongues” of the non-native or enslaved population that comprised the thirteen colonies when the birth of our country occurred in 1776.

I know what you are thinking.

Listed below are some highlights of the past month.

3 – The number of days ahead of schedule that the Defined Contribution Plan went live with Empower. Huzzah!

Sadly, and despite months of communication about this transition, some participants remain oblivious to it even having occurred.

Who said that?

Existentialist, French philosopher, and apparently all-around prankster, Jean-Paul Sartre did.

Where are we going with this?

Stay with me and well go wherever this goes, …., together!

Regarding the quote, according to Sartre the letter C referred to the choices an individual makes in between the two pivotal points of their existence, specifically, their birth and their death.

Nigel Tufnel
Spinal Tap

We are happy to report that the transition of the I.B.E.W. Local 697 Defined Contribution Plan from Vanguard to that of Empower, that began at 3 P.M. Central Time on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024, is progressing well.

If you are a participant of the Defined Contribution Plan of the I.B.E.W. Local 697 AND have a current outstanding loan (meaning your loan has not been deemed) AND have yet to complete and return to the Fund Office, your authorization form that was provided within the Fund’s mailing to you of May 9th, 2024, do so now.

All shortage of hours payments for participants that did not amass sufficient enough hours of work within the first calendar quarter of 2024 (January, February, and March) necessary to maintain continuation of coverage for themselves and any eligible dependent in the third calendar quarter of 2024 (July, August, and September), are reminded that their shortage of hours payment is due, no later than 4:30 P.M. CST on Friday, June 28th, 2024.

All participants are also reminded that in addition to the shortage of hours’ notice that is mailed out to them, participants who find themselves in this situation are also issued an explanation of benefits showing the shortage of hours.

Did you know that:

Seventy percent (70%) of opioid abusers get pain pills from family or friends.
Seventy percent (70%) of teenagers can get prescription drugs from their parent’s medicine cabinets.
Seventy percent (70%) of after surgery pain pills are never used?
Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to deal with pharmaceutical waste.

If the month of May were an album, I think it would be “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis. Yes, I know. Upon reading that your first reaction was, “I love that album.”

Of course you do! Which makes you cool A.F.

What? That was not your first reaction? Really? That’s kind of sad.

Hey, let’s start out this month with a question. Do you think it’s smart to rely on another person’s interpretation and understanding of a particular Benefit, or are you better served spending a little time reading up on it from the source?

I ask that because there seems to be an alarming and growing inclination to learn about Fund benefits through word of mouth.