UAW Letter To GM Asking Them To Reinstate Health Care
UAW Letter To GM Asking Them To Reinstate Health Care
NTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA - UAW
VIA EMAIL
Mr. Sandefur:
I am in receipt of your email dated Wednesday, September 25 , 2019, that I received this
morning, Thursday, September 26 , 2019 at 8:57 am.
Let me recap the sequence of events regarding this very important matter for all our
striking members and their families .
On Monday, September 16, 2019, I wrote to you via email to get a status update
regarding our Members health care (see attached). On Tuesday, September 17, 2019,
you provided an answer that our striking members and their families no longer had health
care coverage . You also wrote, "Our employees should be eligible for COBRA paid for
by the UAW fund so that their health care benefits can continue." (see attached) . The
same day you informed me that health care was no longer in effect I sent
correspondence to all UAW Local Leadership informing them of such (see attached) .
Finally, a week after terminating benefits , you write me a letter dated Wednesday,
September 25, 2019 and received on Thursday, September 26, 2019, stating, "GM has
chosen to work with our providers to keep all benefits fully in place for striking hourly
employees." (see attached) .
These irresponsible actions by General Motors are toying with the lives of hundreds of
thousands of our UAW families.
Scott Sandefur
Health Care Benefits
Page Two
There is no doubt that public sentiment see these actions of GM as a shameful act!
Finally, it is time for GM to come to the bargaining table with an offer that reflects the
hard work of our Members who make you successful and will settle this strike on behalf
of the hundreds of thousands of UAW families , and stop toying with our families' health
and well-being.
Sincerely,
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Vice President and Director
UAW General Motors Department
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Attachments
cc: IEB Brian Rothenberg
Tim Bressler Dave Shoemaker
Bryan Czape Jeff Sodko
Niraj Ganatra Mike Stone
Michael Glenning Regional Assistant Directors
William Karges Regional Servicing Representatives
Darryl Nolen UAW General Motors Department Staff
Rick O'Donnell
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8000 EAST JEFFERSON AVE .
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48214
PHONE (3131 926•5000
NTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS Of AMERICA - UAW
VIA EMAIL
To allay any concerns that our Members may have regarding an interruption in health
care coverage, I am writing to confirm that the Company will continue health care benefits
through the end of the month for all UAW-represented employees as provided for in the
contracts.
Sincerely,
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Terry Dittes
Vice President and Director
UAW General Motors Department
TD:rb
opeiu494
cc: IEB Brian Rothenberg
Tim Bressler Dave Shoemaker
Bryan Czape Jeff Sodko
Niraj Ganatra Mike Stone
Michael Glenning Reg ional Assistant Directors
William Karges Reg ional Servicing Representatives
Darryl Nolen UAW General Motors Department Staff
Rick O'Donnell
Scott Sandefur
Vice President
II NA Labor Relation s
Terry Dittes
Vice President and Director
UAW General Motors Department
8000 East Jefferson Ave .
Detroit, Michigan, 48214
Dear Terry,
I received your letter asking for confirmation that healthcare benefits will continue for UAW-
represented employees. On our labor negotiations site, we directed employees as follows:
"We understand strikes are difficult and disruptive to families. Hourly employees will be eligible
for COBRA, so their health benefits can continue . We want to ensure all available resources are
known or provided to you, so please contact the GM Benefits and Service Center at 1-800-489-
4646 for more information regarding COBRA Benefits."
Our employees should be eligible for COBRA paid for by the UAW fund so that their healthcare
benefits can cont inue . As a result, we believe that our employees, and your members, will not
suffer any loss of healthcare coverage .
Sincerely,
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Scott Sandefur
Vice President
NA Labor Relations
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8000 EAST JEFFERSON AVE,
DETROIT , MICHIGAN 48214
PHONE ( 31 3 ) 926 - 5000
NTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA - UAW
TO : All UAW General Motors Local Union Presidents, Shop Chairpersons, Vice Presidents ,
Financial Secretaries and Recording Secretaries
Yesterday, a letter was sent to GM regarding health care coverage during our strike.
We received a letter, today, confirming that our striking members' health care coverage has
been cut-off by General Motors.
During this period , the UAW will provide medical assistance or a COBRA option, if necessary,
for you and eligible family members .
If you have any questions , please direct them to the auditor assigned to your location by the
Secretary-Treasurer's office .
Additionally, this answer provided by GM , today, will be reviewed by UAW Legal to see if any
further action is required . In the meantime, know that our Union has you and your family
covered!
In solidarity,
-RD~Terry Dittes
Vice President and Director
UAW General Motors Department
TD:rb
opeiu494
Attachment
cc: IEB Brian Rothenberg
Tim Bressler Dave Shoemaker
Bryan Czape Jeff Sodko
Ni raj Ganatra Mike Stone
Michael Glenning Reg ional Ass istant Directors
William Karges Reg ional Servicing Rep resen tatives
Darryl Nolen UAW General Motors Department Staff
Rick O'Donnell
Scott Sandefur
Vice President
II NA Labor Relations
Terry Dittes
Vice President and Director
UAW General Motors Department
8000 East Jefferson Ave.
Detroit, Michigan, 48214
Dear Terry,
GM is very concerned about the significant confusion caused around our employee's health care
coverage. Throughout this negotiation, GM has said that our number one focus was on the well-
being of our employees . That remains the case today.
Given this confusion, GM has chosen to work with our providers to keep all benefits fully in
place for striking hourly employees, so they have no disruption to their medical care, including
vision, prescription and dental coverage.
We want all of our employees to know that their health and well -being are our top priority. If
they have an insurance claim, they should submit it. GM will continue to provide them the
coverage they rely on given the circumstances . We hope the UAW will help us communicate
these continued benefits to their members.
Sincerely,
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/
Scott Sandefur
Vice President
NA Labor Relations