Local 44 News

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have all been anxiously awaiting information about how the Coronavirus shutdowns will affect our MPI plan coverage for us and our families. We have received SOME of the answers to the questions we all have been asking. After a Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plan (MPI) Board of Directors meeting, there was unanimous approval for the following:

• Individual Account Plan (IAP) Hardship Withdrawal will be Permitted
• One Quarter Waiver of Medical Premiums
• Telemedicine with No Co-Payments or Coinsurance for LiveHealth Online or Amwell
• No Out-of-Pocket Costs for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing

PLEASE read the attachment from MPI regarding the details of the above approvals.

We understand that there are still questions about medical coverage, qualifying hours, etc. The MPI financial actuaries and the Plans Board of Directors still need to review, deliberate, and decide their course of action.

When we get that accurate and pertinent information, we will send it to you ASAP.

Please continue to stay safe and healthy!

In solidarity,

Tobey Bays
Business Agent

Anthony Pawluc
Secretary-Treasurer

Last Updated on March 26, 2020

Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans’
Plan of Action in Response to COVID-19

 As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic continues to evolve, below are steps the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans (“Plans” or “MPI”) are taking in response to it.

Thus far, MPI has made the following changes to the benefits provided to you:

Individual Account Plan Hardship Withdrawal is Permitted: 

Participants who are vested in the Motion Picture Industry Individual Account (“IAP”) as of the year ended December 2019 may apply for a one-time special early withdrawal of an elected amount of need of up to 20% of their 2018 IAP account balance not to exceed a maximum dollar limit of $20,000. Participants must apply for this special withdrawal between May 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020 and payments must be completed no later than December 31, 2020 to be reported on a 2020 Form 1099-R for tax purposes.

This exception is not an amendment to the IAP’s Trust Agreement and this one-time withdrawal will be subject to the hardship withdrawal provisions within IRS regulations. Participants who are requesting the maximum available amount of $20,000 will be allowed to “gross up” their withdrawal to account for federal and state tax withholdings (i.e., Participants are able to withdraw $20,000 not inclusive of federal and state tax withholdings).

If permitted by law, such a withdrawal will not be taxable if it is repaid to the IAP within three years’ time.

The application process for this withdrawal request is as follows:

1. The Participant must complete an IAP Hardship Withdrawal Request form (tentative availability date of May 1, 2020);
2. The Participant must sign an affidavit affirming his or her temporary job loss due to the COVID-19-related health emergency; and
3. Payments will be processed in accordance with instructions provided on the IAP Withdrawal Request form.

Waiver of Health Premiums: 

Effective immediately, Participants responsible for paying active health premiums are granted a one-time premium waiver for one eligibility quarter. This waiver will only be extended to Participants enrolled in the Active Health Plan of the Motion Picture Industry Health (MPIHP) on March 1, 2020; the waiver provided is based on the number of dependents enrolled in coverage on March 1, 2020, as well as the Participants’ rate group on March 1, 2020. For health premiums that have already been paid by Participants for an upcoming quarter of coverage, MPIHP will not extend a refund; rather, a credit for health premiums for a future quarter of coverage will be provided. 

Telemedicine with No Co-Payments or Coinsurance for LiveHealth Online or Amwell:

Participants enrolled in Anthem Blue Cross may visit with a provider using LiveHealth Online (www.livehealthonline.com) and pay no co-payment or coinsurance.

Participants enrolled in the Oxford Health Plans may use telemedicine through Amwell (https://amwell.com/cm/) and they will not be required to pay a co-payment or a coinsurance.

No Out-of-Pocket Costs for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing:

Participants will not incur any out-of-pocket costs (no co-payment and/or co-insurance) for the COVID-19 virus diagnostic test and the associated visit for this test.

Early Prescription Refills Are Available:

Beginning March 16, 2020, for a period of 30 days, Participants may refill their prescription medications early, for up to a 90-day supply, from Express Scripts mail order or a Walgreens Smart90 pharmacy (including, Duane Reade and Happy Harry’s). The pharmacy staff may need to contact the Express Scripts pharmacy help desk at (800) 922-1557 for override information.

Participants enrolled in the Express Scripts (ESI) Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan should contact the ESI Part D Customer Service Team at (800) 797-4887 for all prescription refill requests.

Participants enrolled in Kaiser Senior Advantage should contact the Kaiser Senior Advantage Pharmacy Customer Service Team at (888) 218-6245 (if in Northern California) and (800) 464- 4000 (if in Southern California) for all prescription refill requests. 

In addition to the aforementioned, MPI provides you with the following information:

Update on the Financial Markets: 

The Motion Picture Industry Pension Plan (MPIPP) investment professionals have been anticipating and preparing for a market downturn and have taken pre-emptive action to minimize the impacts of these market changes. MPIPP is a long-term investor with a well-diversified portfolio including a large portion of investments that do not have a strong correlation to the world financial markets. Our investment strategy is built to weather the inevitable financial

storms that occur over the decades and take advantage of appropriate and prudent investment opportunities when they arise. 

MPI’s Studio City and New York Offices Are Closed:

MPI’s Studio City and New York offices are closed through April 17, 2020 or until further notice. A secure drop box at MPI’s Studio City office will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. While email is the preferred method to send documentation to MPI, the drop box is an alternative way to get documentation, including premium checks and COBRA payments, to MPI staff.

MPI’s Phone Hours Have Changed:

MPI’s phone hours are now 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, Pacific Daylight Time.

By Email is the Preferred Method of Communication with MPI:

Participants are encouraged to communicate with MPI by email. Participants are highly encouraged to email MPI at service@MPIPHP.org to communicate with MPI staff. A team of MPI staff members are dedicated to responding to emails received. As a reminder, please include your name, date of birth, MPI ID (or last four numbers of your Social Security Number) and mailing address (or phone number) when sending emails to MPI. This will help expedite the process of responding to emails.

Electronic Forms Are Available Online:

Participants are reminded that many of the forms they may be required to complete are available online under the “Forms” section of MPI’s website (www.mpiphp.org). You may use these forms to change your address on file with MPI, add a dependent to your coverage, authorize someone other than yourself to speak to MPI about your health and/or retirement benefits, or change the person designated to receive your pension benefit.

Telemedicine Benefit Reminder:

Participants are reminded that if their provider allows for tele-visits, they may have a telemedicine visit through your primary care provider or specialist at the same benefit as an office visit (co-payment and co-insurance apply). Alternatively, several of the health plans offered through the Plans provide an online telemedicine portal.

If you are not feeling well, telemedicine is a helpful option because it allows you to visit with a medical provider who can evaluate your symptoms and tell you if you should visit a local health provider in person for COVID-19 testing.

Participants enrolled in Anthem Blue Cross are reminded that if their provider allows for tele- visits, they may have a telemedicine visit through their primary care provider or specialist at the same benefit as an office visit (co-payment and co-insurance apply). Participants may also visit with a provider using LiveHealth Online (www.livehealthonline.com) and pay no co- payment or coinsurance.

Participants enrolled in Anthem Medicare Preferred Plan (Medicare Advantage) may use telemedicine for medically necessary visits with their primary care provider or specialist for a $0 co-payment so long as the provider accepts Medicare. LiveHealth Online (www.livehealthonline.com) is also available 24/7 at no co-payment.

Participants enrolled in Kaiser Permanente or the Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Plan should call (833) 574-2273 to schedule a telemedicine visit. Or, Participants can make an appointment online at kp.org/getcare or with the Kaiser Permanente app. There will not be a required copayment to use this benefit.

Participants enrolled in Health Net or the Health Net Seniority Plus Plan may call (800) 835- 2362 to use their telemedicine benefit or visit www.Teladoc.com. Participants will not be required to pay a co-payment.

Participants enrolled in the Oxford Health Plans and the Oxford Medicare Advantage Plan may seek a tele-visit visit through their primary care provider or specialist at the same benefit as an office visit (co-payment and co-insurance apply). Alternatively, Participants may use telemedicine through Amwell (https://amwell.com/cm/) and Participants will not be required to pay a co-payment or coinsurance. This telemedicine benefit is in effect through April 30, 2020.

Optum is Encouraging Behavioral Health Virtual Visits: 

Optum Behavioral Health Solutions (“Optum”) is encouraging providers and Participants to use secure video-enabled virtual visits, and is supplying the platform that providers need to have secure video visits with individuals who cannot travel to an office. For Participants or providers who do not have access to secure video technology, Optum is allowing telephonic sessions if a member is confined to their home due to COVID-19 illness or quarantine.

Optum is Offering Free Emotional Support Help, Tools & Resources: 

Optum is offering a free emotional support help line for all people impacted by COVID-19. This help line will provide those affected access to specially trained mental health specialists. The company’s public toll-free help line number, (866) 342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for as long as necessary. This service is free of charge and open to anyone.

Additionally, there are several coping and disaster tools and resources available to you on www.liveandworkwell.com. Log on to this site using “MPI” as your “Guest Access Code” and then select “Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans” from the drop down menu. Type the keyword “disaster” or look for the COVID-19 spotlight to participant in a webinar.

MPI Staff are Prioritizing Audit of Hours Issues that Grant Eligibility for Benefits: 

MPI staff has been directed to prioritize any audit of hours issues that have the potential to grant health eligibility. If you have an audit of hours issue that requires immediate attention, please contact MPI’s audit and collections department at service@mpiphp.org.

MPI Staff are Not Pursuing Audit of Hours Issues that Can Negatively Affect Eligibility for Benefits:

At this time, MPI staff are not pursuing any audit of hours issues that can negatively affect a Participant’s eligibility. Please note this policy does not prohibit audits in the future and the recoupment of any overpayment of benefits.

MPI Staff Are Shifting to a Work-from-Home Schedule:

In an effort to protect the staff who work at MPI, MPI is shifting to a work-from-home schedule to increase social distancing opportunities. As of today, 80% of MPI staff are working remotely; this percentage is anticipated to increase. Please note, a work-from-home schedule is not anticipated to affect MPI’s staff ability to continue its day-to-day work, including answering your questions and processing your worked hours.

While the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 remain uncertain, you can be confident that MPI is here to provide the highest level of service possible at this time.

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Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As many of you have heard, Governor Newsome and Mayor Garcetti have ordered “safer at home emergency order” to slow the spread of the Coronavirus.  My office had already been planning and in contact with our tech-support and communication vendors working on secure remote access methods for all Local 44 staff to continue supporting member needs.

Anticipating a complete Nation and Statewide facility shut down of “non-essential businesses,” our Business Agent, Tobey Bays, and I, with a skeleton crew, are continuing preparations for offsite access so our respective staffs can work safely and remotely while continuing to assist our membership the best we can.

Going forward, the best way to contact your Union will be via email.  You can reach the following departments at:

businessagents@local44.org – Business Agent Department
businessoffice@local44.org – Business Office and Social Services Departments
callboard@local44.org – Callboard Department
socialservices@local44.org – Social Services and Business Office Departments
webmaster@local44.org – Web and IT Department

PLEASE be patient with response times.  There has been an enormous increase of inbound member inquires since this (truly) began last week and your Local 44 staff have done an AMAZING job helping our membership.  Please continue to monitor your emails, text messages and our website at local44.org  During this unprecedented time, your Officers and Staff will do everything in our power with the tools available to represent and help our membership during this national crisis.

It is time to hunker down and do your best to protect yourselves, family and friends.  As part of working in our industry, we are used to achieving the impossible by working together. This obstacle will be no different, we WILL succeed and we WILL get through this together.

On behalf of our Executive Board, Officers, Staff and Stewards, stay safe and healthy.

Best,

Anthony Pawluc
Secretary-Treasurer
IATSE Local 44

As a safety organization, Contract Services has a responsibility to the overall health and safety of our industry. To help guard against the spread of COVID-19, we have temporarily suspended all in-persontraining and lobby visitation to our facility. This effectively means Contract Services is closed to the public, although many of our staff are still working remotely to keep critical services operating for our partnersduring this period of uncertainty.

Electronic document submission instructions:

• Because our lobby is closed, applicants submitting roster documentation, letters, paystubs, resumes,etc. should email them to reception@csatf.org.
• Employment Verification Letters should be emailed to evl_processing@csatf.org.
• Classifications with Licenses or Certifications or Credentials requirements to maintain roster statusshould email them to roster@csatf.org.

Please note that we will be issuing training deadline extensions for in-person courses only. For individuals with online training requirements, those training deadlines still apply. In addition, to reduce the amountof paperwork passed between individuals submitting Form I-9 documents and Contract Services’ staff,Contract Services will suspend its processing of Forms I-9, effective close of business March 31, 2020.

See our website at www.csatf.org or your portal account for the latest updates.

March 17, 2020

Dear California Congressional Delegation:

We are writing to you on behalf of the over 45,000 members of the California IATSE Council (CIC) who live and work in the entertainment industry in our State. We realize that this is a time of great economic upheaval that is impacting every industry and business—and thus their workers—in California.

We hope the needs of all of us can be met. However, we want to make you aware of the unique situation entertainment industry workers face because of the way work is obtained in our business. Our members often work for many different employers on many different productions over the course of a year.

Since we do not fit into traditional work definitions, rules designed specifically for the single employer, or even multi-employer, work in the construction industry, are very likely to exclude our members. We ask you to ensure our members are included, and do not “fall through the cracks”, when the third coronavirus emergency package comes before you shortly. Our industry is critical to the economy of the State of California as well as to this great Nation, supporting 892,000 direct jobs and $16.3 billion in exports in 2019 alone.

Specifically, the unique, mostly freelance nature of the film and television industry means that many of the women and men who make it run work only sporadically. Our members may work on only one episode of a series or prepare for a film for a year or more. They may not work every day or even every month. There may be an extended period between paying jobs. Our members count on the income from each production they work on to ensure that they can take care of their families and qualify to participate in our health and pension plans. When that film, episode, live performance, or other broadcast is canceled due to the coronavirus, our members need interim financial support just like every other hard-working American. 

That is why we propose a special Emergency Coronavirus Economic Support Benefit geared to include our members who have a completed contract or a bona fide, good faith offer to work, and the production has been postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus. This would be a benefit similar to the Emergency Paid Leave benefit in Division D of HR 6201, but available to those who cannot work due to a production shut down, rather than due to illness, quarantine, or family caregiving needs. At this point, virtually all productions in the United States has shut down or will do so by the end of the week. An emergency benefit for our members will help keep them afloat when they cannot work due to no fault of their own—and when they do not otherwise qualify for any other form of emergency assistance.

Film and Television production has been is synonymous with California—known to billions around the world as the home of the motion picture industry—since it settled here over 100 years ago. We employ hundreds of thousands of people and support a vast network that also includes thousands of large and small businesses across the state who depend on our industry as well. In 2018, key film and TV companies paid over $11 billion to more than 52,000 businesses.

We are one of the few industries in the U.S. that can boast a trade surplus. But right now, we are completely shuttered and our workers are unprotected. When the coronavirus emergency ends, we want our members to be on the front lines of restoring California’s economic strength. We look to you to help us do that.

Sincerely,

Thom Davis                                                                                        
President, California IATSE Council
Business Manager
Motion Picture Studio Grips, Crafts Service & First Aid, IATSE Local 80

Anthony Pawluc
Sec-Treasurer
Affiliated Property Craftspersons, IATSE Local 44

Carlos Cota
International Trustee & International Representative
Stage Hands, IATSE Local 122 San Diego

Chuck Parker
National Executive Director
Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800

David Swope
Business Representative
Motion Picture Costumers, IATSE Local 705

dooner
Associate National Exec. Director, IATSE Local 800
Art Directors Guild

Doug Boney
Business Representative, IATSE Local 884
Motion Picture Studio Teachers & Welfare Workers, IATSE Local 884

Jason Elias
Business Representative
Script Supervisors/Continuity, Coordinators, Accountants & Allied Production Specialists Guild, IATSE Local 871                               

Jim Beaumonte
President
IATSE Local 16 San Francisco

Joanne Desmond
Assistant Business Agent
IATSE Local 16 San Francisco

Michael F. Miller, Jr.
International Vice President, IATSE
Director of the Motion Picture & Television Dept., IATSE

Patric Abaravich
Business Representative-Sec
Studio Electrical Lighting Technicians, IATSE Local 728

Rachael Stanley
Business Representative
Costume Designers Guild, IATSE Local 892               

Randy Sayer
Business Representative
Hair & Make-Up Artists, IATSE Local 706

Rebecca Rhine
National Executive Director
International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600

Richard Disbrow
Business Representative
Stage Hands, IATSE Local 122 San Diego

Robert Denne
Business Representative
Motion Picture Set Painters & Sign Writers , IATSE Local 729

Ron Garcia
International Representative
IATSE

Sam Bowers
Business Representative
IATSE Local 504 Orange County

Scott Bernard
Business Representative
Production Sound/Video & Projection Engineers, IATSE Local 695

Sergio Medina
Business Representative
Treasurers & Ticket Sellers, IATSE Local 857

Steve Kaplan
Business Representative
The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839

Steve Lutge
Business Representative
Stage Hands, IATSE Local 16 San Diego                               

Tobey Bays
Business Representative
Affiliated Property Craftsperson, IATSE Local 44

CC: California Congressional Delegation

On Monday, March 16, U.S. House Representative Adam Schiff sent the below letter to House leadership requesting considerations for workers in the Entertainment Industry. 

Dear Sisters, Brothers and Kin,

We are providing the helpful link below to multiple Los Angeles County resources that we hope can be beneficial to you and/or someone you may know. This is a crowd-sourced guide of information regarding government benefits, worker/housing/low-income resources, entertainment, best practices, food, education etc. Stay healthy and safe everyone.

Link here: https://about.1degree.org/covid-19-la-en

Friday, March 13, 2020

NEW YORK, NY – Matthew D. Loeb, International President of the IATSE, released the following statement with regards to the coronavirus virus:

“As social distancing measures are enacted and events and projects across all sectors of the entertainment industry are cancelled, it’s become clear that the COVID-19 crisis requires decisive action from our Federal Government to support displaced entertainment workers.”

“Right now, thousands of our members across all sectors of the entertainment industry are suffering financial hardship because of government mandated cancellations. Entertainment workers shouldn’t be collateral damage in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.”

“But this isn’t just about us. Economic studies demonstrate that entertainment spending reverberates throughout our communities nationwide. Film and Television Production alone injects $49 Billion into local businesses per year, and the overall entertainment industry supports 2.1 Million jobs in municipal and state economies.”

“Along with the other entertainment unions and the labor movement at large, we call on the Federal government to pass a relief package that prioritizes workers whose incomes have been lost as a result of this crisis. Strong measures like ensuring continuity of health benefits, providing enhanced and extended unemployment, disability, and workers compensation insurance are necessary for ensuring the financial stability of entertainment workers and their families. Additionally, the government should enact a special emergency paid leave benefit geared to include our members.”

“It is vital that these measures are enacted as soon as possible to provide effective emergency relief for workers who have felt the economic consequences of the Coronavirus the hardest.”