SOUTHERN INTERIOR HEALTH & WELFARE PLAN EXTENDED HEALTH BENEFITS - The "Blue Net Card" was launched 1 and 1/4 years ago so that members could get medications without having to pay for the full amount up front and then submit a reimbursement claim for the covered amount at a later date. As the members know, there were problems with the implementation of the Card and this did not take place until several months after the date that it should have. In addition, the proper information did not get out to all the members in a timely fashion.

What covered members have to do is communicate with the physician issuing the perscription and find out if there is a "generic" brand of medication that will do what the physician wants the medication to do. If there is, then that generic brand is what the perscription should be issued for. OR, if the physician says that there is a generic brand but that it won't do the job, than the physician must fill out a "Special Authroization Request" (S.A.R.) explaining why he is perscribing that particular medication and send it into PharmaCare for approval. If an S.A.R. approval is needed, the member will have to pay the full cost of the medication up-front and then submit a claim form, the same as they had to do in the past. PharmaCare will send the physician a reply fairly quickly, either approving the S.A.R. or denying it. Get a copy of the S.A.R. with PharmaCare's approval/denial and send that into Blue Cross along with the receipt and the claim form. If you have further problems or Blue Cross denies reimbursement, please contact the Local Union. 

SAFETY - When it comes to safety, insist on your rights: the right to know, the right to participate, the right to refuse unsafe work and the right NOT to be discriminated against for exercising the right to refuse unsafe work. This is a time when workers must excercise extra care and not take any chances. An accident can cause an injury and pain and suffering to the worker and his/her family and the costs associated with an accident could mean the difference between an employer continuing to operate or not. So please, DO NOT TAKE ANY SHORT-CUTS OR CHANCES. Work safe and stay healthy.

 NEGOTIATIONS - See the negotiation web site under "Links"

INTERFOR - The Union (Locals 1-405 & 1-423) did meet and exchange proposals with Interfor, in Castlegar on July 30th, 2009. There have not been any further meetings with Interfor as they have no interest in re-starting the plant at this time.

LOCAL DATES TO NOTE -  The next Executive Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd, 2010.