Pension Processing

Many employees are asking, “When am I eligible to retire?  I want to retire as soon as I am eligible and not one hour longer!”  We have been informed by Fidelity that employees watching Credited Service cannot include the first 40 hours paid to us this calendar year.  These hours were paid to us for the Christmas Holiday period of 2004.  It is our position that hours compensated in a calendar year count toward that year’s Credited Service. We have requested that this situation be remedied and a fix is in the works; but with things of this nature, it may take some time.

Also, Fidelity is not able to recognize any unused current year vacation time toward Credited Service.  So bottom line for now is - if you are planning to retire as soon as you are able and want to get a pension check on time, keep in mind the fact that you should not cut it so close as to jeopardize your goal!  Give yourself enough of a cushion of Credited Service hours to insure that processing with Fidelity will go smoothly.

Optional & Dependent

Life Insurance Invoices

Employees who have been laid off or on any type of leave of absence may have received an invoice to pay the monthly premiums for these optional programs.  Some are being sent in error, others need a coding corrected at Fidelity to update that computer system telling Fidelity that you are back to work.  A fix of this system is in the works, but if you are affected by this issue, to insure that your data is correct, contact Fidelity at 1-800-489-4646 and ask for the Health & Insurance Department. Be sure the representative knows that you have returned to work and ask for details on continued deductions.

Healthcare

If you are enrolled in Priority Health and receive a Blue Cross card in the mail, do not throw it away and forget about it! There is a problem that needs to be corrected at Fidelity. Your Benefit Rep will need to contact Fidelity and Priority Health to be sure all eligibility is in place. You do not want to wait to find there is a problem when you are at the pharmacy trying to pick up a prescription.

Legal Services Plan

In cases where husband and wife work for GM or Delphi, one eligible participant can contact 1-800-521-7818, Ext. 517 and declare coverage for both parties for tax purposes. You need to call with eligible participant’s names, social security numbers and locations of employment. If you have already notified Legal Services of your wishes in the past, there is no need for further action.

Contact Benefits:

@3450 (In-plant)

246-3450 (Local)

800-730-8292 (Toll Free)

Your UAW Local 730 Benefit Reps -

Grant Holst                 Jerry Reid        

Jolan Jackson               Lauri Veneman

Alt’s.:  George Casarez and Denise DeBoer