Retiree Chair Report June, 2020
On June 10, 2020 the Retirees Chapter Executive Board had a meeting by conference call. Local 199’s Financial Secretary Steve Mc Mullen gave us a financial report on Local Union’s finances following the layoffs due to the Covid-19 pandemic and how we have lived through problems with EI and workers getting paid $2,000 instead of EI.
Our union reps spent a great deal of time trying to fix a lot of problems which workers experienced during the layoff period. Steve McMullen is still working on problems that arose from those layoffs even after our members returned to work.
I have been getting weekly reports from the Office of Vance Badawey who is the Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre. In his report of June 5, 2020, he talked about there being a one-time of $600 payment
for persons with disabilities in order to address their expenses. This payment will go to valid Disability Tax Credit certificate holders. This includes parents with children or dependents with disabilities, seniors and veterans. This $600 payment will be on top of the Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The date people will get these payments will be July 6, 2020.
I am still after Vance Badaway about the OAS being raised by 10% for those aged 75 years of age and older and for those getting the 25% CPP provided to widows and widowers.
I would like to make sure everyone knows that the province of Ontario will lift the 30-day prescription limit effective Monday June 15, 2020 due to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Our retirees and all other people will again be able to get 90 days quantities of prescribed medications at a time from their local pharmacies the same as they were able to before the Covid-19 pandemic.
EX-UAW International President Gary Jones pled guilty in the UAW corruption probe then prayed for forgiveness. I am hoping he will face a lot of jail time after everything that he did not do for the UAW membership when he broke their trust in him.
I must also report that no Labour Day activities will be held at our Union Hall on September 7 2020. There will also be none in Port Elgin. This of course is due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of people present would be too great to safely handle.
Fred Dougan Chairperson Local 199
Chairperson of the Local 199 Retirees Executive Board.
We have attached several Links below to retiree related pages and our current SUB campaign.