First shore pension cheques to be sent out in early May
We are close to finishing a question and answer booklet on the shoreworker pension plan. We hope to have this booklet ready for distribution sometime during the herring popping season. It should answer a lot of your questions and concerns on the pension plan.
We have now done the allocations for 1989 and 1990 and have sent out all the income tax forms (T4As) that will be going out. Due to some complications there has been a small delay on when the cheques will be sent out, but they should be sent out by the middle of May.
Later this year we will be doing the 1988 and the 1991 allocations.
These allocations have put us a bit behind in having the full system up and running. In the January Fisherman we had said that you would be receiving a statement from the pension plan in April. We will still be doing these statements but you may receive them a couple of weeks later than planned.
Over the past few months I have had people phone in who wanted to increase their contribution to the pension plan. If you are a member of the pension plan you may want to increase your required contribution of 3.5 percent on gross earnings done by payroll
Shore Pension
Sandra Gertsch
deduction which is matched by the companies.
The voluntary contribution is any amount you elect to put into your pension account above the required 3.5 percent. If you elect to make a voluntary contribution it will not be matched by the company, unlike the required contribution.
The deadline to elect to make voluntary contributions will normally be Jan. 15. Once you choose to do so, your contributions must continue for one entire year. The companies have agreed to extend the deadline for this year past Jan. 15.
If you are already back at work you should go to the company payroll office immediately and fill in the required form for voluntary pension contributions. If you are not yet back to work, the deadline
will be extended till you go back.
When electing to make voluntary contributions keep in mind that you may only contribute a combined total of 18 percent of your gross earnings into a pension plan or RRSP. This means a person under 55 years old may only increase their contribution to a maximum of 14.5 percent of their gross earnings as the company puts in 3.5 percent on their behalf.
People who are 55 years old or older must take into consideration the amount they will receive at the end of the year from the allocation. The money from the allocation is also included in their total limit of 18 percent to pension plans or RRSP's. For these people it would be a good idea not to increase their contribution to more than 10 percent. When the allocation is done at the end of the year, if anyone goes over their 18 percent limit, we will be unable to put the money that is over the 18 percent limit into their pension account. We will issue cheques to those people who go over, for the amount that is over their 18 percent limit and they will have to include it on their taxes in the following year as income.
If you have any questions on voluntary contributions or other aspects of the pension plan please call the pension plan office at 255-4834.
Safety conferences planned
FISHING MASTER'S CERTIFICATE
Your skipper's ticket may be expiring. The Coast Guard has notified the union that no one holding a Fishing Master's Certificate (skipper's ticket) on the West Coast has applied to have it renewed. This MUST be done otherwise your certificate will be invalid effective February 6, 1993.
Certificates issued prior to July 1, 1988, must have a CPE by February 6, 1993, or they will cease to be valid at sea. If you have any questions please call Philip Nelson from the Coast Guard at 631-3851.
B.C. MEDICAL PREMIUM ASSISTANCE
Many shoreworkers can benefit from the Premium Assistance Plan under B.C.
Medical. This could mean a subsidy to your medical premiums.
There are 5 levels of assistance available depending upon your net income. If your family net income is below $17,000.00 and this is with additional deductions, then you are eligible. If your adjusted net income falls below $9,000.00 then you would only have to pay $42.00 per year for a family of 3 or more. For more information call B.C. Medical at 683-7151 in Vancouver or 1-800-663-7100.
Members who have lost their C.U.& C. health benefit coverage because of being laid off, retiring or terminated can apply for coverage (within 31 days) under a Personal Health Care Plan. For information call the UFAWU Benefit Fund office at 255-8771.
CONFERENCE ON REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURIES
Burma Lockett and Alanna Lantela will be speaking at the conference and we would encourage all those interested in these injuries to attend. For more information contact union headquarters.
B.C. FEDERATION OF LABOUR ANNUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CONFERENCE
This year's theme is employment for people with disabilities and the reorganization of WCB's rehabilitation programs. Registration is $65.00 for the conference from April 26-28, 1992. Child care is available. For more information call Alanna at 255-1336.
Manufacturing and Repairing up to 90" diameter for Tugboats Fishing Vessels and Pleasure Crafts
MANGANESE - BRONZE • MAGNUM-BRONZE (cda9S7) STEEL - STAINLESS STEEL
J&J Propeller & Sons 1992 Ltd.
Also Manufacturing Auger Bow Thruster Propeller
520-5929 Fax 520-3101
61 Duncan Street New Westminster, B.C. V3M 5G3
ISLAND CENTRE
ISLAND SHOPPING CENTRE (1989) LTD. P.O. BOX 470, ALERT BAY, B.C. VON 1A0 GROCERIES
FRESH MEAT & PRODUCE HARDWARE & SPORTING GOODS BUILDING SUPPLIES FAMILY CLOTHES & SHOES TOYS & GIFTS TV'S & STEREOS PROPANE SALES
Store Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
TEL 974-5535
Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
FREE BOAT DEUVERY DAILY - SERVICE IS OUR BUSINESS
major credit cards
(Bcoufort)
Dunlop-Beaufort, the world's foremost name in the design, manufacture and supply of safety and survival equipment
FOR ALL YOUR MARINE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
DUNLOP-BEAUFORT CANADA LTD.
12351 Bridgeport Road, Richmond, B.C. V6V 1J4 Telephone (604) 278-3221 / Fax (604) 278-7812
Lirette named to fund
Steveston shoreworker Lance Lirette was appointed assistant benefit fund director by the UFAWU General Executive Board Feb. 22. Former assistant director Barbara Stevens has taken the position of benefit fund director, replacing Morris Anderson, who is retiring.
Lirette has 18 years experience in fish plants, where he has been working in the labelling warehouse. He worked for Nelson Brothers from 1974 to 1978, and at B.C. Packers Imperial plant since 1978. He has served on the board of trustees of the UFAWU and was elected twice to the General Executive Board of the union.
• LIRETTE
Lirette has an accounting degree from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and completed a pension and benefits course at Capi-lano College.
m
Jabsco pumps
• Par pumps
WOLFF MARINE
SUPPLY LTD.
780 East Cordova Street Vancouver, B.C.
SALES & SERVICE
• Pacer pumps • Rule Pumps • Simer pumps
- SPECIAL PRICE! DANLINE ROPE -
3/a" & 5/ie" - $2.25/lb.
Phone 254-8137
THE FISHERMAN / MARCH 23,1992 • 11