SMART Local 506
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    • Called Off Road To Cover Yard When Extra Board is Exhausted (RULE 32K)
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    • Dogcatch Claims >
      • Automatic Release (Rule 67)
      • Multiple Dogcatch (Rule 31)
    • EOT Handling
    • Extra Dodger Assignment Change
    • Failure to Furlough after 48 Hours
    • HI (Held In) Status
    • Meal on Non-Interdivisional Service (Dogcatching, etc)
    • Road Crews Driving Company Vehicles >
      • Dodger Crews Driving Company Vehicles
    • Road Crew Hostling Power
    • Senior Applicant Extra Board Seniority Restriction
    • Senior Available Applicant to Conductor Extra Board When Vacancies are Filled by Other Means
    • Single Day Requests
    • Step-Ups
    • Temporary Vacancy Not Allowed- Assigned Freight
    • Tied-Up at Intermediate Point
    • Train Exchange
  • New Hire Information
    • New Hire Home Page & Important Info
    • Membership Application
  • Furlough Information
  • News Blog
  • Agreements & Attendance Policy
    • Salina Hub Agreement
    • Expanded Salina hub
    • 1992 CREW CONSIST MODIFICATION
    • AWTS Agreement
    • Vacation Agreement
    • Zone 100 Modification Agreement
  • Union Insurance
    • Disability Insurance Policies
    • DIPP Insurance >
      • Schedule of maximum benefits
      • DIPP summary plan description
      • DIPP Summary of Material Modifications
      • DIPP Program Application
      • DIPP Claim Form
  • Health and Welfare
  • Maps & Yard Procedures
    • Fairfax Job Aid
  • Quick Reference Guides, "How To's", and Common Q&A
    • Vacation Bid Process
  • UTU Political Action and Resources
  • Excess Hours of Service Report
  • Helpful Links

Furlough Information

Health Insurance Information for Furloughed Members

​Members who have been furloughed should be aware that their health care coverage benefits from their employer extends through the end of the fourth month after being furloughed. Below are Frequently Asked Questions that may be useful to our furloughed members.

Q: How long does my insurance coverage last if I am furloughed?
A: Employee and eligible dependent coverage extends through the end of the fourth month following the month in which you last render compensated service. For example, an employee last rendering compensated service in January, who is then furloughed in February, will have coverage extended through the end of May.

Q: Will vacation pay extend coverage beyond four months?
A: With regard to furlough – no.

Q: Will I be able to continue coverage under COBRA when coverage for me and/or my dependents end?
A: The COBRA eligibility period (18, 29 or 36 months) is measured from the date of the “qualifying event.” For the health and welfare plans, the “qualifying event” is the date you last worked, NOT the date your coverage ends.
The COBRA eligibility period, therefore, runs concurrently with the extended coverage as state above so that COBRA continuation is available for the remaining months, if any, after the extended coverage ends.

For example – An employee is furloughed in January and coverage extends through May. COBRA continuation is available beginning June 1 and thereafter for an additional 13 months. In these circumstances, no more than 18 months of COBRA is available, less the five months during which the employee remained covered by the Plan after the qualifying event in January.


Q: How will I be notified that COBRA is available to me and/or my dependents?
A: When the railroad reports an employee as not being eligible for benefits, a COBRA notice is automatically sent to the employee’s address of record. The form must be completed and returned to UnitedHealthcare in a timely manner in order to establish COBRA coverage.

***
For other benefits that furloughed members may be eligible for click on the following links:
https://www.smart-union.org/news/furloughed-members-may-be-entitled-to-benefits/
​

https://static.smart union.org/worksite/newspdfs/2015/October_2015_TD_News_center_final.pdf

***
It should be noted by all furloughed members that it is your responsibility to keep your contact information up-to-date not only with your employer, but also with your union. This includes your phone number, mailing address and email address.

Your employer will need your correct contact information to call you back to work. Many SMART TD legislative boards and locals are holding informational sessions for furloughed workers and need your correct contact information to keep you informed.

To update your phone number or address call your local officers or call SMART TD headquarters at 216-228-9400 ext. 3908. You may update your address electronically with the union 
here or by going to utu.org and clicking on the ‘Address Change‘ button on the right side of the home page.

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UPREHS handles insurance for YOU, not your dependents. 
​
The following information is for the members only and includes only health insurance information. It does not include dental or vision insurance coverage. 
​
Health insurance will continue for three months following the last month you paid premiums.
  • Example: Your last working start was February 27, 2015, you would be insured through May 2015.

You can purchase COBRA insurance through UPREHS which would be the same health coverage you had while working after your three months expire. The coverage is $100.00 per month for an additional 6 months beyond the three months after you are furloughed. The $100.00 per month coverage cannot exceed the number of months you paid premiums to UPREHS.
Example: You worked for four months before being furloughed. You would be eligible for three months of coverage following the last month of your last start. You are also eligible to purchase four additional months of coverage at the $100.00 per month rate.

At the end of your determined $100.00 per month eligibility you may purchase coverage at a rate of $702.37 per month if you have under 12 months of total service.
​
If you have over 12 months of total service, you may purchase coverage for $100.00 per month for 6 months following 3 months after your last month of your last start. Coverage can then be purchased for an additional 6 months at $175.00 per month. Coverage can then be purchased at $702.37 per month.
​Once you are furloughed, UPREHS will send you a packet in the mail with information about purchasing coverage specific to you. If you do not receive your packet or have any questions, UPREHS can be contacted at http://www.uprehs.com/homepage.shtml  or by calling Toll-Free: (800) 547-0421

Unemployment


Click the following link to Apply for Railroad Unemployment.
​
Click the following link If you're looking for information on Unemployment Benefits for Railroad Employees.

If you'd like a PDF version of the booklet "Unemployment Benefits for Railroad Employees" click on the following link. 
Unemployment Benefits for Railroad Employees

Health & welfare

Click here for Health and Welfare Information.

Employment Opportunities

The following list provides information about job vacancies reported to the Railroad Retirement Board's (RRB) field offices. The list includes orders that the receiving field office does not expect to fill locally, and which according to RRB records remained open as of the end of the month.

Click
Railroad Job Vacancies Reported to the RRB to go to the website list.

kansas area shortlines/railroad employment opportunities

KYLE Railroad (a Genesse & Wyoming company):
http://www.gwrr.com/operations/railroads/north_america/kyle_railroad

General Manager:
Shane DeWald
Phone: (785) 628-7701

Office Manager:
Sonja S. Kinter
Phone: (785) 628-7702

Kyle Job Postings:
https://gwrr.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.jobsearch
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (A Watco Company)
http://www.watcocompanies.com/

General Manager
Jimmy Patterson
1825 W. Harry
Wichita, KS 67213
P:
 316-261-6170
F: 316-263-5563 

Watco Job Search:
https://watcocompanies.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/index
South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (A Watco Company)
http://www.watcocompanies.com/our-services/rail-services/skol/

General Manager
Donald Carona
123 N. Depot
Cherryvale, KS 67335
P:
 620-336-2291
F: 620-336-2712 

Watco Job Postings: 
https://watcocompanies.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/index
Kaw River Railroad (A Watco Company):
http://www.watcocompanies.com/our-services/rail-services/kaw/

General Manager
Mark McClellan
1128 South Mill Street
Kansas City, KS 66105
P
: 816-807-8687
F: 913-321-2910 

Watco Job Postings: 
https://watcocompanies.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/index

Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway (an Omnitrax company):
http://omnitrax.com/our-company/our-railroads/nebraska-kansas-colorado-railway-llc/

General Manager
Randy Matson
111 Lincoln Avenue
Grant, Nebraska 69140
Ph: 
800.331.3115
Fax: 308.352.4474

Job postings: http://omnitrax.com/railroad-jobs/railroad-job-openings/
Cimerron Valley Railroad (a Western Group company):
http://www.thewesterngroup.net/
Garden City Western Railway (A Pioneer company):
http://www.pioneer-railcorp.com/gcw.html

Shane Cullen, V.P. of Mechanical & Operations
(I don't have a number for Shane)

Henry Hale, Manager 

620-649-3280 
​
henry@cimarronvalleyrr.net
I have listed all their local managers, but all these shortlines are under a bigger company umbrella, so if you contact their local manager or check their website, they can direct you further as to updated job opportunities on their systems.  Each have system maps on their website which will show where their lines go, home base is and outlying crew terminals are.  Their local manager can provide more info if needed to locations. All of these lines pay into railroad retirement.

    Fill out this form to submit questions concerning information about being furloughed.

Submit Question
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Site Design:  Chris Walls, Rusty Beames, and Kevin McHugh
  • Home
    • Local 506 Info >
      • Officer Contacts
      • Update Contact Information
    • The Reports Page
    • Member Toolbox
    • Safety Committee >
      • Safety Concerns & Suggenstions Form
    • UTUIA
  • Crew Consist
  • Claims
    • Claims Information
    • 10th Street off Assigned Limits Violation
    • Assigned Jobs Performing Extra Road Service
    • Board Runaround
    • Called Off Road To Cover Yard When Extra Board is Exhausted (RULE 32K)
    • Claims While Taking Rules Exam
    • Dropped Turns
    • Dogcatch Claims >
      • Automatic Release (Rule 67)
      • Multiple Dogcatch (Rule 31)
    • EOT Handling
    • Extra Dodger Assignment Change
    • Failure to Furlough after 48 Hours
    • HI (Held In) Status
    • Meal on Non-Interdivisional Service (Dogcatching, etc)
    • Road Crews Driving Company Vehicles >
      • Dodger Crews Driving Company Vehicles
    • Road Crew Hostling Power
    • Senior Applicant Extra Board Seniority Restriction
    • Senior Available Applicant to Conductor Extra Board When Vacancies are Filled by Other Means
    • Single Day Requests
    • Step-Ups
    • Temporary Vacancy Not Allowed- Assigned Freight
    • Tied-Up at Intermediate Point
    • Train Exchange
  • New Hire Information
    • New Hire Home Page & Important Info
    • Membership Application
  • Furlough Information
  • News Blog
  • Agreements & Attendance Policy
    • Salina Hub Agreement
    • Expanded Salina hub
    • 1992 CREW CONSIST MODIFICATION
    • AWTS Agreement
    • Vacation Agreement
    • Zone 100 Modification Agreement
  • Union Insurance
    • Disability Insurance Policies
    • DIPP Insurance >
      • Schedule of maximum benefits
      • DIPP summary plan description
      • DIPP Summary of Material Modifications
      • DIPP Program Application
      • DIPP Claim Form
  • Health and Welfare
  • Maps & Yard Procedures
    • Fairfax Job Aid
  • Quick Reference Guides, "How To's", and Common Q&A
    • Vacation Bid Process
  • UTU Political Action and Resources
  • Excess Hours of Service Report
  • Helpful Links