COVID-19 updates

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In addition to the COVID-19 updates we provide on our website, there is also a website IATSE has set up to obtain COVID19 specific information. This website is also for members to create a buddy system to check in on older, disabled or at-risk members along with a delivery system and volunteer database.  The link will be accessible on our website menu bar until the pandemic passes.

Check it out: https://iatsecares.org/about/

April General Membership Meeting Cancelled

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Due to the Corona Virus and the city of Los Angeles “Stay at Home” order, the April General Membership meeting is cancelled and the June meeting will be determined at a later date.

IATSE Fund Relief in Response to COVID-19

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IATSE NATIONAL HEALTH & WELFARE FUND 
Relief for Fund Participants in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Click on the link below to view the full notice that provides details on the measures that The Board has adopted to assist participants in Health Plans A and C in continuing their coverage under the Fund.

Please note that reinstatement of coverage will occur by the end of day, April 3, 2020 and will be retroactive to April 1, 2020 for all Plan C participants.

The crediting of additional days for Plan A participants will occur early next week and be visible on-line by mid-week.

https://www.iatsenbf.org/assets/IMPROVEMENTS-TO-HEALTH-ELIGIBILITY-COVID-003.pdf

Coronavirus Hardship Withdrawls, and other Critical Plan Changes

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Uncertain times and extraordinary circumstances have brought together the management and union trustees to take urgent action on behalf of the participants in the Plan. The Trustees adopted three important new rules:
 

  • Allowing hardship withdrawals of up to $15,000 every 90 days for employees who are unemployed as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. Other changes were made to the hardship withdrawal rules, as outlined below.
  • Implementing new changes in federal law by allowing $5,000 withdrawals from your account for childbirth and adoptions, and by increasing the age when participants are required to begin taking mandatory distributions from the Plan
  • Changing the requirements for Early and Normal Retirements to better comply with IRS requirements

Full details in the PDF.

ATTENTION MEMBERS:

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The Local 857 Office will be closed as of this afternoon due to the Los Angeles City and County “Safer at Home” order, until further notice.

Our Office Staff will work remotely from home and will be reachable via email or by leaving a message at 818-990-7107. We will return all emails and voicemail as soon as possible.

We thank you in advance for your patience.
Local 857 Executive Board

Extra COVID-19 Support for Participants

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I’m writing today to share important updates to our benefits in response to COVID-19. We’re making changes to expand access to care, eliminate certain out-of-pocket expenses and offer guidance and support to our participants.

To ensure our participants get the care they need, Empire has updated its COVID-19 coverage as per the Funds request.

With the declaration of a national emergency, IATSE National Health & Welfare Fund is offering the following COVID-19 coverage for testing and medical care to our participants:

  • Testing and care benefits: Waive the participants cost share; including copays, coinsurance and deductibles, for diagnostic testing related to COVID-19, as well as for the in-network visit associated with COVID-19 testing, whether it takes place at a doctor’s office, urgent care center or emergency department.
    • If an in-network provider isn’t available, we’ll work with participants to make sure they’re covered.
  • Telehealth: We recommend our participants use telehealth when possible to help prevent the spread of infection and improve access to care. Empire’s telehealth provider, LiveHealth Online, is a safe and effective way for participants to receive medical guidance related to COVID-19 from their homes using a smartphone, tablet or computer with a web cam. To promote the use of telehealth services, we are waiving our participants cost shares for LiveHealth Online visits and provider telehealth visits for next 90 days.

In this challenging and uncertain time, we’re dedicated to helping our participants and the health of our communities, and Empire is working hard to remove barriers to accessing the care our participants need.
Sincerely,

Anne J. Zeisler
Executive Director
IATSE National Benefit Funds

PDF copy here.

COVID 19 UPDATE

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While the immediate future of our industry is still very much in question as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Officers and Executive Board are working diligently and staying up to date of all changes effecting all Local 857 represented employees.

The Officers are working with the IATSE, the Union attorney and the Employers to determine working conditions and to coordinate health and safety measures. In the meantime, it is very important to follow these precautions:
 

  • ​Clean your hands often.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
  • If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
  • Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
  • Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
  • Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)
  • Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
  • Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.

Below are relevant links to the CDC, the IATSE and local City, State and County Department of Health Services. 
Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: 
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

California Department of Public Health: 
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

World Health Organization 
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

LA County residents can also call 2-1-1

ATTENTION MEMBERS:

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  • All workers who have been laid off, including independent contractors, can file a claim for UI assistance if needed. This can be done online as we know.
  • Governor Newsom has lifted the normal one-week UI waiting period. Members can apply immediately. 
  • If you are home with Covid-19 you can apply for Disability Insurance. The waiting period is also waived here.
  • If you are home because you need to take care of a family member who has contracted COVID-19, you can apply for CA Paid Family Leave. PFL requires medical certification.
  • Paid Family Leave assistance is not currently a viable option in other circumstances.  For instance, if you must stay home with children because the schools are closed, you do not qualify for PFL. The Agency is currently looking at options to address this but does not have those completed at the time of the call. 
  • We would not recommend that members go the Workers’ Comp application route. You must get a doctor’s letter and the employer can contest your claim. It is better to stay with the employer and the members health care provider/system.   
  • The President’s declaration of a national emergency will also free up Disaster UI as well. 
  • The Agency is looking at other options to supplement UI that would not take away from, but rather build on, a UI claim.
  • Updated and ongoing information can be found at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency website.  https://www.labor.ca.gov/

One of our long time members passed away last night.

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It is with great regret that we inform you that our Sister, Marci Goldstein, passed away yesterday afternoon. She was 70 years old.,
Marci was a great person. She encouraged those who worked in all Box Offices to be professionals and to see the Box Office as not just a job, but as a career. She was a great believer in trade unionism and was always promoting the Local to all its members, young and old. Marci always kept in touch with the Local, always inquiring about its members and management, offering advice and encouragement from her over 20 years of experience. Our deepest condolences go to her husband Steven and the rest of her family and friends.
We will keep you all posted of any services.