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Union wins three more months of healthcare and structured severance pay for workers from IWA and Division A shops in landmark arbitration

Friday, September 11, 2020 7:31 PM

The arbitrator’s decision requires IWA and Division A employers to pay for an additional three-month extension of healthcare coverage for employees who are still on layoff as a result of the pandemic. Those workers are now guaranteed healthcare through the end of 2020. Most employees from those same IWA and Division A shops (who would be entitled to severance pay in the event the shop permanently closed) will soon be entitled to extra pay each week to supplement their unemployment benefits as a structured payout of severance. Read more…

Great Job Rich!

September 11, 2020, 8:31 PM

By Former President Peter Ward

I just wanted to take a moment to pay homage to the absolutely marvelous and amazing job our new President, Rich Maroko, has done in almost single-handedly winning an additional three months of health care coverage, and the right to collect severance “bridge payments” for the approximately 28,000 HTC-represented workers covered under the IWA and Division A contracts. Read more...

Great Job Rich!

September 11, 2020, 8:31 PM

By Former President Peter Ward

I just wanted to take a moment to pay homage to the absolutely marvelous and amazing job our new President, Rich Maroko, has done in almost single-handedly winning an additional three months of health care coverage, and the right to collect severance “bridge payments” for the approximately 28,000 HTC-represented workers covered under the IWA and Division A contracts. Read more...

NY will issue three weeks of $300 supplemental unemployment benefits

September 12, 2020 3:56 PM

The New York Department of Labor has announced that the state will begin to distribute $300 a week supplemental unemployment benefits (provided under the Lost Wages Assistance Program) the week of September 14th.

Update: In-Person learning delayed for most NYC Public School students

September 18, 2020 7:09 PM

On September 17, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that most New York City public schools would delay the start of in-person learning. In-person learning was set to begin on September 21st for all students who are enrolled in blended learning programs. Now, in-person learning will be phased in depending on your child’s grade level and what school they attend. Read more...

Update: NY approved for a total of six weeks of $300 supplemental unemployment benefits

September 21, 2020 6:45 PM

On September 18th, the New York State Department of Labor announced that the state has been approved for three additional weeks of supplemental unemployment benefits provided under the Lost Wages Assistance Program. Eligible New Yorkers will now receive an additional $300 a week in unemployment benefits for a total of six weeks. Read more...

Apply for Public Healthcare Programs in New Jersey

If you want to apply for one of the public healthcare programs in New Jersey, you can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person.

Apply for Public Healthcare Programs in New York State

If you want to apply for one of the public healthcare programs in New York State, you can apply online, by phone, and in-person at the Queens, Brooklyn, and Harlem Health Centers and the Benefit Fund’s office at 305 West 44th Street.

Can I receive payment for my paid time off to extend my healthcare?

September 25, 2020, 2:46 PM

Before this pandemic, under the long-standing rules of the Industry-Wide Benefit Plan, covered employees were eligible for healthcare if they worked enough hours (functions in the case of banquet servers) or as part of a severance package. Laid off workers were generally not eligible and payment of accrued time off typically did not extend their eligibility for healthcare.

However, to meet this emergency, on August 25th, HTC President Rich Maroko convened a special meeting of the trustees of the Funds and convinced the trustees to amend the plan so that payment of paid time off would extend healthcare coverage. The trustees also approved a temporary plan that allows the workers we represent to maintain partial healthcare coverage. Read more...

Find alternative healthcare

Updated December 23, 2020 3:24 PM

During this catastrophe, the federal government utterly failed the people they are supposed to serve and the toll has been more horrific even than most American wars.

Our Union, however, has moved mountains to win extraordinary protections and special benefits to assist the workers we represent to get through this emergency. The most important example has been the Union’s success in persuading and compelling a devastated industry to continue to fund healthcare coverage for most of the 40,000 workers we represent (most of whom are laid off) over a period of many additional months.

We have compiled this guide about the many alternative healthcare options that will be available to you should you lose coverage in the upcoming months. Read more...