Welfare Notes - September 2002

September, 2002

The S.U.P. Welfare Plan was established in accordance with the collective bargaining agreements between the Sailor's Union of the Pacific and participating employers. The Welfare Plan provides many benefits such as medical and dental, the Money Purchase Pension Plan, the 401-K Savings Plan, and the Andrew Furuseth School of Seamanship to qualified Union members and their dependents.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the operation of the plan and is made up of an equal number of Trustees appointed by the participating employers, and trustees appointed by the Union. Only the full Board of Trustees is authorized to interpret the Plan benefits, and no individual Trustee, Union representative or Employer representative is authorized to individually interpret this Plan.

The Plan Administer, Ms. Michelle Chang who is employed by Zenith Administrators of San Francisco, handles the day-to-day administration of the plan. The Plan Administrator is retained and compensated by the plan at the direction of the Plan Trustees. 
The office for the S.U.P. Welfare Plan is located at headquarters in San Francisco. The office processes all medical and dental claims for active members and retirees and their families and dependents. The office also handles all the enrollments for the assorted medical and dental plans, and advises members on their eligibility with the plans. The Welfare Staff consists of Ms. Patty Martin, and Ms. Jessica Campbell, who are employed by the Welfare Plan, and Mr. Brian Farmer from Zenith Admistrators. The SUP Welfare Representative also serves the individual needs of both the active and pensioner memberships. In addition to processing all of the medical and dental claims and issuing checks the headquarters staff also have many other duties. The office is responsible for the internal work on the Money Purchase Pension Plan, the 401-K Savings Plan, the death and burial benefits, disability benefits, vision benefits, alcohol and drug treatment benefits, and training benefits for active members. The Welfare Office also does all the work on the retiree's benefits, the annual medical and hospital allowance, the pensioners and spouse Medicare Part B premiums and widows benefits. These benefits along with the rights to appeal procedures are all listed in the Summary Plan Description books that are available to all members and pensioners.