WALKING THE WALK WHAT IS A REAL UNION?

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1 WALKING THE WALK WHAT IS A REAL UNION? Recently, in a meeting with a new member at the Newington facility, he said he wanted any group that he joined to be for the little guy. He recalled his experiences in other trade unions, and how they treated their members in need, and said this wasn t happening with his current county employee group. He said he was tired of just pizza and promises. He also asked if we were a real union, because this group s representatives were recently at the facility and had made the claim that FWC was not a real union. As a 41-year member of the International Association of Firefighters and having served on the Executive Board of IAFF Local 2068 for over 25 of those years, I can answer that question. A real union: is focused on truly serving its members, especially those in need. The firefighters have done this, and so does FWC. One of the principal reasons people started FWC is that we are determined, unlike other county groups, to build a fund that helps those in need. We are following the firefighter model in this regard. A real union: cares about your safety. There are too many workers in the County who are working in unsafe conditions with unsafe equipment and asked to do tough jobs with minimal protection. When they get hurt, they often have to fight for workers compensation coverage. FWC provides unchallenged expertise in this field. A real union: is accountable. It doesn t hide the money taken in with large salaries paid out, its expense accounts, or where the dues actually go. Its members vote on their annual budget in a public meeting. They vote on a financial report every month. Any member can look at the financials, the checkbook, anything they want. A real union: tells the truth. It doesn t bend the facts to suit its political purposes or scare people into joining by telling them they will lose benefits if they don t. A real union: is upfront about its political action. It doesn t beg for political money to use in local races and then report zero dollars for over three years in its state political action fund. Where does that money go? A real union: honestly represents its members, providing them the best possible representation, including before the Civil Service Commission. FWC is an independent labor organization of the kind that is becoming more common across the country. In Virginia, we are legally equivalent to any other labor organization, regardless of affiliation. Our interest is county workers and our community. And we are not just a chapter of a state-wide union, with no real autonomy or voice, and controlled by just a few people. Unions are not just legal entities. They are a representation of core values of caring about others, of standing for the greater good, of working together. Not just in a photo opportunity or a rally, but when it really means something, even if no one else sees it. Being there for our injured, their families, and those in need. Not seeking to exploit troubles but helping our members cope, and when necessary, fight back. In this most basic sense, FWC is a real union. Before you join anything, ask yourself about what really matters to you. See if your union walks the walk and has a record to prove it. CONTACT US: Fairfax Worker's Coalition Sager Ave. Suite C Fairfax, VA (703) Are you having issues in the workplace? Workplace Bullying Discrimination Unfairness Disciplinary Action CONTACT US, WE ARE HERE TO HELP! 1

2 Abenity Benefits are Here! Our membership voted to adopt the Abenity benefit program during our July 11, 2018 monthly membership meeting. This dues included member benefit provides various discounts for car rental services, hotel discounts, movie passes, restaurants and much more, both locally and nationally. We signed a contract with Abenity on August 6, 2018 and will begin to enroll our current active and retiree members immediately. We will automatically enroll new members as they join. You will be contacted via by Abenity confirming your enrollment. Go to: for more information. Your user name is your registered address and your temporary password is: fwc2018.this benefit is available to you as well as your family members. Getting Hurt On The Job: What You Need To Know (This is the first in a series of articles on workplace safety and injuries. Let us know what s happening at your workplace, and we ll fight for you. Next Month: Hazardous Exposures) While many people think of unions as focused on grievances in terms of member advocacy, helping a worker hurt on the job is perhaps an even more fundamental responsibility. Winning or losing a grievance is not as meaningful as what can happen to your health and your family for the rest of your life. Contrary to what is commonly believed, many injuries go unreported, or are reported late or incorrectly. This can have a profound effect on the getting the injury covered. The difference can be between receiving job protection, injury leave, covered medical costs- or losing leave, having large bills, and possibly losing your job. The first rule is reporting the injury. Virginia law allows 30 days for a report, but you should do this as soon as possible. Use the Injury/Accident Reporting form, found on the link for County Risk Management. But even a verbal report or a log book entry can suffice. It s important to have the date right. Virginia law allows 2 years to file a claim, but again, you shouldn t wait this long. Often, Risk Management/CORVEL will file on your behalf, but you need to make sure any filing is correct, especially in terms of the description of your injury. If your claim is denied, we will help you appeal and receive great legal advice from an attorney specializing in workers compensation. FWC works with several area lawyers to provide this service. Sometimes during the denial period you may receive bills; don t pay them if you are appealing, and notify those sending the bill that you have an active workers comp claim. Virginia law bars collection of medical costs pending decisions on active workers comp claims. Your best move is to call us. FWC service in this area is second to none. We have the experience, we work here, and we know the county system. Let us help you. 2

3 HEALTH CARE AND YOUR RETIREMENT: The Real Issue In the current debate about changing retirement benefits for new employees, there is a large elephant in the room that no one wants to address: the cost of health care. Fairfax County currently contributes little to retiree health care. If you work here at least 25 years, are at 55 years old, and are eligible for full retirement, the county will contribute up to $230 per month. Less service than that decreases the subsidy amount, and in many cases, people are not eligible at all. Many employees visit the retirement agency to get their calculations for DROP or full retirement, only to be stunned by how much health care insurance is going to cost them. Other than the small amount mentioned above, it s fully out of your pocket. For family coverage under the CIGNA plan, it can range from $1, to $ per month. Kaiser family coverage can cost up to $1, Even individual coverage ranges from $ to $ every single month. In addition, the premiums continually rise, as do the allowed deductibles. Consequently, many employees are planning on using their supplemental retirement income, such as the 457 plan or the pre-social security benefit to pay for their health insurance. The County offers Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) (not to be confused with a Flexible Spending Account (FSAs) that allow you to make annual pre-tax contributions to assist with co-pays and must be exhausted every year.) These plans are not well advertised but could be helpful with more support and better county contributions. The proposed pension plan change with the greatest chance of approval by the Board of Supervisors appears to be the elimination of the pre-social security supplement for new employees, which would take effect on July 1, As FWC has continually pointed out to the BOS, many retirees count on this benefit to assist with their health care costs. The only apparent real need to implement this change is because they have to do something, and few jurisdictions have the pre-ss benefit. The fiscal impact is minimal at best. Coupled with proposed changes to the minimum eligibility (moving the 2013 rule of 85 to 90) and possibly raising the Final Average Salary calculation from 3 to 5 years, these changes, in reality amount to the practical elimination of retiring before age 65 (the age of Medicare eligibility) for new employees. For current employees, never ending health care cost increases and lack of adequate county support for retiree health care are causing the same thing. The pre-social Security supplement shouldn t be ended, and if it is, health care subsidies need to be improved- for future and current employees. County employees work hard and are dedicated to their jobs. Health care costs are the real issue for retirees. Join FWC in making sure this happens. 3

4 Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts vs. Health Savings Accounts Many employees are not aware that the County offers both Flex Spending and Savings Accounts for Healthcare. So, what is the difference? How are they alike? Both have pre-tax deduction benefits, and are done primarily through payroll deductions, but they are very different. To highlight some of the differences between the two: The Flexible Spending Account: is money that you allocate during open enrollment to utilize for next year s known medical expenditures. This includes prescriptions, office co-pays, and over the counter medications. The money is accessed by filing claims and receipts for qualified medical expenses. If you do not file the claims, or do not reach the level of expense that you set aside during open enrollment by the deadline date for that calendar year, you forfeit the money you set aside. The Health Savings Account: is a savings account which has no expiration or use or lose deadline dates. The contributions remain in your account until you use them. There is a limit to the amount of money you can contribute without paying an excise tax to the IRS. You must also be enrolled in a qualified consumer driven health plan (for example: Cigna or Kaiser Permanente). The Health Savings Accounts offers investment options, can be set up at the first of any month, and is totally portable (meaning you can take it with you when you retire!) You can also use it to pay for those medical expenses you incur in retirement. There are certain restrictions however, such as: you can t be claimed as a dependent on someone else s tax return, and you can t be enrolled in Medicare. For more information on Flex Spending or Health Savings, visit the County Infoweb. Are you suffering in Silence? In speaking to several employees, your coalition board has learned that many of you are suffering in silence when it comes to your work environment. We hear so many of you are in a hostile work environment, even being bullied; yet you tell us, I just keep my head down and don t say anything, or I m afraid of retaliation. We are here to tell you, DON T BE! We are aware that there are areas in the county where the work environment is hostile, and people feel intimidated. While this is not the County norm, it does exist. Your coalition members are here to assist you we are working with the County to eradicate this method of management. So, please don t suffer in silence, Join the Fairfax Workers Coalition and stand with us. The more members we have, the louder our voice! 4

5 AFLAC Offering Short Term Disability Insurance In July, we were notified that AFLAC will begin offering Short Term Disability Insurance to the members of the Fairfax Workers Coalition. This is in addition to the optional benefits they already offer including their popular accident insurance as well as the hospital coverage. These are benefits that are not offered by the county. Premiums charged are added to our bi-weekly dues amount of $10.00 and the employee has the right to continue coverage on their own upon separation of service from the county. In addition, the following life insurance options are available: TransAmerica Life Insurance Options How much will it cost? Here are some example quotes for average people like you, (please call for customized quote): Age Universal Life Insurance* premium per $50k death benefit Term Life Insurance** premium per $50k death benefit 35 year old $19.56 $4.80 (10yr) & $6.30 (20yr) 50 year old $ year old $ $13.02 (10yr) & $13.28 (20yr) $37.34 (10yr) & $49.36 (20yr) * Universal Life Insurance premiums above are bi-weekly for non-smoking men and women and include these riders: - Terminal Illness: Accelerated Death Benefit - Long-Term Care: Accelerated Death Benefit AND Extension of Benefits ** Term Life Insurance premiums above are bi-weekly for non-smoking men and women and include these riders: - Terminal Illness: Accelerated Death Benefit - Child Term Life Insurance *** Coverage for lower and higher death benefits also available Please contact us if you are interested in any of these offerings. 5

6 Fairfax Workers Coalition Authorization for Deduction of Dues Active County Employees The Fairfax Workers Coalition (FWC) is an independent voice for all Fairfax County employees, not affiliated or controlled by any outside organization. Its purpose is to give Fairfax County workers a true voice in a group that is transparent, open to all, truly run by its members and democratic in every aspect of its operations. All financial statements will be open, and decisions will be made by the membership. We need an independent voice that truly represents the needs of Fairfax employees. Please join us today in this effort to bring democracy back to Fairfax County workers representation. I, the undersigned, hereby apply for membership in the Fairfax Workers Coalition (FWC) as my duly authorized representative on matters relating to my workplace issues, pay, benefits, retirement and health care. Please consider this your authority to abide by the Constitution and By Laws of FWC. I hereby authorize my employer, the Fairfax County government, to deduct from my earnings the current dues of $10 per pay period, only subject to change by an open membership vote in accordance with FWC s Constitution and By Laws. NAME OF EMPLOYEE Last Name, First Name, Middle COUNTY AGENCY & FOCUS I.D. # MAILING ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP HOME PHONE NO. MOBILE PHONE NO. ADDRESS (non-county) SIGNATURE OF EMPLOYEE DATE PRINTED NAME WELCOME TO YOUR INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY WORKERS! FOR USE BY FFXWC OFFICIAL I hereby certify that the regular dues of this organization for the above-named member are currently established at $10.00 biweekly. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED UNION OFFICIAL DATE Please return your membership form to Jon Miskell, Secretary-Treasurer, call +1 (703) Form MF2 6