COVID-19
Vaccination Information
For information regarding vaccines please log in to the members only area.
Information on COVID Vaccination from Illinois AFL-CIO
In an effort to answer questions about the COVID Vaccination, the Illinois AFL-CIO has provided the flier below:
COVID-19 Masks and Nose Clips
Brothers and Sisters:
Another provision of the federal COVID-19 stimulus bill known as the CARES Act is now available through Fidelity to Annuity Fund Participants.
This feature allows Participants who have taken a loan from their Annuity Fund account to defer their monthly payments until January 2021. You must contact Fidelity if you wish to take advatage of this deferral. Importantly, your deferred payments will be added onto the end of your payment schedule, you will continue to accrue interest during the remainder of 2020, and your resumed monthly payments will increase due to the interest that accrues during your payment deferral.
Please contact Fidelity or the Fund Office for additional details.
A Hardship Withdrawal has now been implemented by Fidelity
This hardship withdrawal called the CARES Act is now avilable through Fidelity. Applications for this distribution can be obtained by calling Fidelity at 1-866-84UNION (1-866-848-6466) and applications can be returned to the Fund Office via mail, email or fax it to 708-449-7606.
An overview of the CARES Act is below:
On Friday, March 27, 2020, the House passed and President Trump signed the COVID-19 economic stimulus package known as the CARES Act, which had previously been passed by the Senate. Among its provisions, the CARES Act allows eligible participants to request penalty-free distributions from their Annuity Fund account of 50% of your account up to $100,000 for qualifying coronavirus related reasons. These include adverse financial consequeces due to being quarantined, furloughed, laid off or having work hours reduced; being unable to work due to a lack of childcare; or closing or reducing hours of a business owned or operated by the individual.
CARES Act Distributions are more favorable than hardship withdrawal because:
- Tax on the income from the withdrawal may be paid over a three-year period;
- Participants may repay the amount withdrawnto an eligible retirement plan within three years;
- Repayments will not be subject to the retirement plan contribution limits; and
- All contributions sources (other than moneypurchase pension plan sources) will be available
RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE E BOARD
While the entire globe continues to weather the Corona Virus Pandemic, we realize the United States and Illinois is experiencing a significant economic down-turn as a result of this horrific disease.
During these unprecedented times, solidarity amongst Union brothers and sisters is more important now than ever before. Thus, the Union deems it prudent to take an additional step in assisting our members during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, the Union's Executive Board passed a resolution to send a one-time relief check of $200.00 from our General Fund to each and every member who was in good standing as of April 1, 2020.
These checks will be going out in the mail with-in the next 2 weeks.
Please stay safe.
A MESSAGE FROM CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR
In times of crisis, it is solidarity that keeps the labor movement strong. The Chicago Federation of Labor and it's partners have set up the Chicago Labor Relief Fund to make direct payments to families who have lost their livelihoods because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are able, please consider donating to the Chicago Labor Relief Fund at www.ChicagoLaborReliefFund.com.
Please see the announcement from the Board of Trustees of Sheet Metal Workers Local 73 Health & Welfare Fund regarding temporary plan changes dues to COVID-19.
April 3rd Update
Brothers and Sisters,
As we all try to navigate through this new direction we are facing, I wanted to provide you with updates that are ongoing at this time.
Since the announcement this week regarding the Stay at Home order until April 30th by Governor Pritzker, our offices still remain open to help with the needs of our members.
You can find information regarding the recent Annuity Amendment that was passed by the board below and also on the Pension & Welfare website.
All notices and alerts that have been put out over the past two weeks can be found here for your convenience. We wil continue to send out updates to keep you as informed as possible of all Union activity.
We know as part of the industry of essential workers, many of you are still going to job sites. If at any time, you do not feel comfortable going to work, please discuss this with your steward, contractor and Business Agent.
Our thoughts are with our members and their families as they go through these trying times. Please remember that we are here for you, if you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out to any of the Officers.
Fraternally,
Raymond Suggs
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION AND LINKS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE ON HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO COVID-19.
Governor Pritzker announced yesterday they launched the All in Illinois campaign to unite Illinoisans during these unprecedented times. This platform is used to reinforce the stay at home oeder, share updates on COVID-19 as well as encourage residents while they are in quarentine. Click here to learn more.
If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact:
Illinois Department of Public Health:
Hotline:800-889-3931or email: dph.sick@illinois.gov
City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:
Hotline:312-746-4835 or email: coronavirus@chicago.gov
You can sign up to get updates from the City Of Chicago's Department of Public Health
ANNUITY ANNOUNCEMENT
COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES FROM SMOHIT
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE GUIDELINES
A MESSAGE FROM THE TRUSTEES OF THE ANNUITY FUND
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT AND BUSINESS MANAGER RAYMOND SUGGS REGARDING COVID-19
STATE OF ILLINOIS EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-10
OUR INDUSTRY IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL UNDER SECTION 9, 12H AND 12N. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CONTRACTOR TO SEE IF YOUR JOBSITE IS OPERATIONAL. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
https://www2.illinois.gov/Documents/ExecOrders/2020/ExecutiveOrder-2020-10.pdf
BELOW IS A LETTER SENT OUT TO THE MEMBERSHIP ON 03/19/2020. CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION
Illinois Department of Employment Security
https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/COVID-19-and-Unemployment-Benefits.aspx
CDC Information
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
Illinois Department of Public Health
GOV. PRITZKER TO FILE FOR STATEWIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION LOANS
Click here to download the release.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR PROTOCOL FOR THE COVID-19
These are protocols as of March 16, 2020. They are updated as evolving guidance is received. Clock on the link below.
SMART COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR UNION MEMBERS
Please click on the link below for important information.
https://smartunion.org/news/smart-cov-id-resources-for-union-members