Hiring Hall Working Rules
The "Working Rules" for the Hiring Hall have been established to govern the referral of members to work. The PWU and the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (CUSW) share a common dispatch list for all trades classifications. Members of CUSW and the PWU Hiring Hall are subject to the same rules and benefits.
When work requests for either the PWU Hiring Hall or CUSW are received from an employer, qualified members who register on the Jobs Line are referred in the order they appear on the Out of Work List. The Jobs Line is updated regularly with information on upcoming work requests. The toll free Jobs Line number is 1(877)575-2855. Harry Tomsett is the dispatcher for all classifications and can be reached at 1(877)575-3155 or (905)665-9344. The information on the Jobs Line will include the work request number, the classification required work location, the date the work is to start and the closing date of the request. It is the member's responsibility to monitor the tape and leave a message if he/she is interested in the work request.
Members who neglect to pay basic dues are not active on the Out of Work List and will not be eligible for jobs through the Hiring Hall. It is the member's responsibility to keep their dues up to date. Members who fall more than 6 months behind in their dues are removed from the Out of Work Lists. To be reinstated and placed back on the Out of Work Lists the delinquent member must pay a $150.00 reinstatement fee.
Members referred to work will be removed from the Out of Work List when a job referral lasts more than two weeks. If a member does not take a job they will not be affected negatively on the Work List.
It is the member's responsibility to keep the Hiring Hall informed of any change of address or phone number so we can keep in contact with him/her. When a member is laid off or stood off it is his/her responsibility to inform the Dispatcher so he/she can be added to the Out of Work List.
Union Dues
For members employed through the PWU Hiring Hall the employer remits $0.80 per paid hour (August 2002) to the PWU as Union Dues.
When a member is unemployed he/she must pay Basic Dues in the amount of $20.00 (August 2002) for each full month of unemployment whether through layoff or standoff. Dues payments must be current for the member to maintain his/her position on the Out of Work List. This amount is payable by cheque or money order to the Power Workers' Union Hiring Hall. Mail to the Power Workers' Union Hiring Hall, 244 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 1K2. Dues can be paid in advance or month by month. Members who do not pay dues are not eligible for jobs through the Hiring Hall.
The Working Rules
- A member who is laid off, quits or is terminated from their employment must register with the Joint Dispatch (1-877-575-3155) or their respective Union Office by 4:00 p.m. the following day to register a "layoff date".
- The order of registration on the Out of Work List will be according to the registered "layoff date".
- All registration on the Out of Work List for a given date will be recorded in the order of the member's Established Commencement Date (ECD). The member with the most recent ECD date (least seniority) is placed on the Out of Work List first and so on. Members laid off on the same day who have the same ECD will be recorded and registered in the order determined by a draw.
- Members referred to work through the hiring hall will lose their place on the Out of Work List when the Job Referral lasts more than two weeks (Subject to 5 below).
- If a member is laid off and has not accumulated enough hours to collect maximum EI benefits per week, he/she will retain their "layoff date" until enough hours have been accumulated to collect maximum EI benefits. It will be the responsibility of the member to provide documentation to the Union Office confirming their ineligibility for Maximum EI benefits per week.
- A member laid off in one geographic area (per the applicable collective agreement) of the Province is entitled to rehire in that same geographic area if there is a call for workers within two weeks of the layoff (Based on the ECD). This rule also applies to Generating facilities on a site specific basis.
- Members 6 months in arrears in the Basic Dues will lose their membership and all privileges in the Union. Ex-members may be reinstated with payment of a $150.00 reinstallment fee effective on date of receipt of said dues.
- Members will be dispatched to work in the following manner:
- All help requisitions will be aired on the Job Hotline: 1-877-575-2855
- Members will have the sole responsibility to secure employment through the Job Hotline by:
- Monitoring the tape
- Leaving a message on the tape including their name, phone number and the job in question.
- Once a deadline date and time have been established on the tape for a particular help requisition, those members highest on the Out of Work List who have responded will be placed to work.
- These rules are established as a guideline for dispatch and are subject to change by the Union when necessary to protect the work opportunities of the Union.
Health and Welfare Benefits
The PWU Hiring Hall is on the governing body of the Power Sector Benefit Trust (PSBT). The PSBT administers life insurance, dental, drug and extended health benefits to the members of the PWU Hiring Hall through Great West Life.
For each hour a member of the PWU Hiring Hall is paid (or works at Ontario Power Generation(OPG)) a sum of money is forwarded to the PSBT at the end of each month. The current amount is $2.00 and is part of the member's Total Wage Package and is deducted from pre-tax earnings. The money is placed in individual members' accounts to purchase benefits on a monthly basis. The cost of benefits in July 2002 is $215.05 ($199.12 plus tax) for family coverage and $97.41 ($90.19 plus tax) for single coverage.
A member will only be put on the plan when he/she has accumulated enough money in his/her account to purchase 3 months coverage ($630 for family coverage). Money is received in the member's name the month after it is earned (money earned in April is received by the PSBT in the middle of May and posted to the member at the end of May). Members can pay directly to the PSBT for coverage if they are out of work and their account is running short.
If a member accumulates more than 9 months of coverage he/she has the option of transferring the excess into his/her retirement fund, receiving a rebate (less taxes) or leaving the money in his/her account. This is done in January or February of each year.
Power Sector Benefit Trust Benefit Summary
Each member will receive a fully detailed booklet; the following is a brief summary of benefit highlights:
Life Insurance
Flat amount of $50,000
Dependents Group Life
Spouse: $25,000
Each Child: $5,000
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
Each member and spouse: Flat amount of $50,000
Reductions
Each member's and spouse's life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits
reduce 50 % on the members 65th birthday. All benefits cease on the members 70th birthday.
Pay Direct Drugs
The maximum dispensing fee is $5.00 per prescription (Drug Identification number).
All drugs requiring a prescription by law are covered plus certain drugs not requiring a prescription
(see booklet for details).
Extended Health Care
Zero deductible
- Private Duty Nursing
- Ambulance
- Aids, services and supplies
- Oxygen
- Orthopaedic shoes and orthotics
- Colostomy and ileostomy supplies
- Emergency Travel Assist
- Speech therapy
- Clinical psychology
- Physiotherapy
- Chiropractor
- Osteopaths
- Chiropodists or podiatrists
- Hearing aids
- Vision care (eye glasses) $300.00 per person every two calendar years
Dental
Payment is made based upon the current Dental Association Schedule of Fees for General Practitioners. Your deductible per calendar year is nil.
Reimbursement is 100 % of covered charges.
Coverage is for Basic and Preventive procedures and includes coverage for periodontal work (treatment of gum disease) and root canal treatment (endodontics). Repair and adjustment of dentures is also covered.
Retirement Benefits
The PWU Hiring Hall provides retirement benefits through Power Sector Retirement Plan arrangement with Great West Life. The Plan provides for a member to invest pre-tax dollars into a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). The RRSP gives the member the option of investing in fixed rate RRSPs or a variety of Investment Funds.
Because the Power Sector Retirement Plan represents a large number of members, we are able to get more favourable investment arrangements than would be available to an individual.
Money is received from the employer in the same manner as Health and Welfare Benefit remittances. The current amount is $3.00 or $5.00 per hour depending on which Collective Agreement you are working through.
Money can be withdrawn from your account for a small administrative fee up to four times each year.
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