AUGUST 11, 2010

UPDATED - 30TH ANNUAL MOSES MEMORIAL
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
 

Applications for the 30th Annual MOSES Memorial Scholarship Awards are being accepted.

>> Details and Application
 

JULY 30, 2010

VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT/ LAYOFF INCENTIVE
 

Dear MOSES Commonwealth Members,

MOSES has recently signed agreements with the Office of Employee Relations, to allow for voluntary lay-offs and a cash incentive retirement. These Master Agreements gives the Commonwealth agencies the opportunity to offer to MOSES members participation in these programs. (These programs do not involve MOSES members at MWRA or MassDOT.)

Most of the Commonwealth agencies will be offering the voluntary retirement/lay-off incentives in hopes of avoiding lay-offs. Please read the agreements for the specifics and please pay particular attention to the dates that the agreements cover.

>> Click Here to read the agreement
 

JULY 28, 2010

MassDOT Furlough Information
 

Dear MOSES MassDOT member,

Last Friday, MOSES was informed by MassDOT HRD/OER that MassDOT would begin implementation of the 3.6 days of furlough beginning with the August 14th pay advice and ending in December. By beginning the deductions at this time it gives the employee 9 pay periods to meet their obligation instead of the 5 pay periods offered to Commonwealth employees. Although neither plan, made or makes the burden put on the public sector employees truly acceptable, the MOSES membership agreed to the concession package in exchange for the funding of our current contract and for reimbursement of increased health insurance co-pays and deductibles.

MOSES had questions and concerns as to the use of the furlough time by the 31st of December and did get MassDOT to extend the use of the "furlough time" comp time until June 30th of 2011. MassDOT employees who would like to choose the No Work No Pay option must contact their Human Resources Department to make the request.
 
The taking of these furlough days should not come as a surprise to anyone. I had stressed to the board of directors and the membership that MassDOT was simply delaying the taking of these 3.6 days to accommodate the Secretary of Transportation and the needs of MassDOT.

Joe
 

JULY 6, 2010

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MOSES MEMBERS!
 

Dear MOSES member:

On July 23rd your pay advice will finally include the 1% salary rate increase as well as the retroactive amount due from June 30, 2010 through July 3, 2010. This increase was negotiated in the last collective bargaining contract and delayed by the membership when the majority of the membership voted for the concession package that included furloughs.  If you have any questions or feel that there has been a mistake made with your check, you should contact your human resources department.

In addition to the 1% increase your pay advice will also reflect the reimbursement of the increases in the GIC health insurance co-pays and deductibles that went into effect February 1st .  I have been told that these reimbursements will be paid quarterly and will appear in your check under the category of “HC Increm”. This program will continue through June 30, 2011.

The third item to look for in the July23rd pay advice will be the additional personal time added if you chose to work your furlough days. Remember, this time that must be used by December 31st.
 
Below are the Unit 9 State Job Group Index and the Unit 9 Bi-weekly State Salary Schedule through June 2012..

>> Unit 9 State Job Group Index

>> Unit 9 Bi-weekly State Salary Schedule
 

APRIL 29, 2010

HEALTH INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT INFORMATION
 

As you know, on 11/20/09 the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) approved cost increases to our health benefits which were implemented on 2/1/10.  On 2/11/10 bargaining unit 9 members ratified an agreement amending our 2009-2012 Collective Bargaining Agreement to require (in part) that the Commonwealth reimburse us for the increases in co-pays and deductibles that we would suffer in fiscal years 2010 and 2011. 

The Commonwealth is in the process of setting up how employees will be reimbursed.  At present, the plan is as follows: 

Eligibility:

To receive reimbursement, an employee must:

 - be an employee of an agency under the control of the governor;
 - be a member of unit 9;
 - have coverage through GIC
 

Length of Program:

Between 2/1/10 and 6/30/11
 

Basis of Reimbursement: 

You will receive reimbursement for the incremental out-of-pocket cost you experience as a result of co-pay increases and new deductibles.  Ex:  prior to 2/1/10 you paid a $15 co-pay for a doctor visit and now you pay $20; you will be reimbursed $5.


What do you need to do: 

Nothing.  The reimbursement will automatically be included in your check on a quarterly basis beginning July of 2010.  It will be identified as “H.C. Increment”.

NOTE:  MOSES strongly advises all employees to keep records of their expenditures in case a problem or dispute arises.
 

Why quarterly ?: 

Medical billing usually has a 6 week processing time format he date the medical service is provided.  There may be delays depending on when your health care provider submits your claim.
 

Is the Reimbursement Taxable?: 

No.  However, those who participate in the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) program must make sure that you do not take the incremental reimbursement from the HCSA account.  If you do the reimbursement from GIC will be taxable.
 

What to do if you expected a Reimbursement and didn’t get :

1)     Contact your provider to ensure that your claim was submitted.

2)     Get documentation from your Health Plan.

3)    Contact the Commonwealth’s Human Resources Division (HRD) hotline at 617.878.9835 which will be operational 7/6/10.