USW-Coastal Forest Industry Health & Welfare Plan
The USW-Coastal Forest Industry Health & Welfare Plan arises out of and is subject to the terms of the Coast Master Agreement. It provides benefits to eligible Steelworkers bargaining unit employees of coastal British Columbia forest industry companies, which are members of the Forest Industrial Relations Limited.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Four Trustees have been appointed by Steelworkers and four by Forest Industrial
Relations Limited. The eight Trustees are responsible for the placement and
administration of the Plan. As of May 2019, the Trustees are:
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Appointed by Steelworkers
G. CHEETHAM J. BROMLEY D. Palmer A. CHUMBER
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Appointed by FOREST INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS LIMITED
T. GETZIE D. REGIER S. BUTTERFIELD D.ELLIOTT
BENEFITS
The Plan includes
- Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (insured and paid by the British Columbia Life and Casualty Company “BC Life”)
- Weekly Indemnity benefits, also known as Short Term Disability (self-insured by Trust, paid by BC Life*)
*Benefits self-insured by the Trust are not insured by an insurance company regulated under the Financial Institutions Act (British Columbia). The Trust is exempt from the requirements of the Financial Institutions Act (British Columbia).
ADMINISTRATION
The Trustees have hired Pacific Blue Cross** to administer the Plan on their behalf. Every month, participating employers contribute to a trust fund on behalf of their eligible employees. The Trustees hold and invest the fund, which is used to pay for benefit coverage and for operating expenses
NOTICE
The information on this web site is an outline of the benefits provided by USW-Coastal Forest Industry Health and Welfare Plan and is not a contract. This Plan only covers those benefits listed above and included in the Plan Summary and the Plan Booklet included in the web site. For further information about the Plan, contact your employer, local union office, or the Plan Office. For your information, we have included references to other negotiated benefits and certain government programs.
OTHER BENEFITS
Eligible employees may also be covered through their employment for other benefits, which are NOT part of the Plan
- Long Term Disability benefits (through the jointly trusteed IWA-Forest Industry LTD Plan)
- Pension benefits (through the jointly trusteed IWA-Forest Industry Pension Plan)
- Basic Medical and Hospital (through the provincial government's Medical Services Plan of British Columbia)
- Extended Health Care (through contracts between employers and Pacific Blue Cross)
- Dental (through contracts between employers and Pacific Blue Cross)