The Local Union has received a number of calls from retiree’s stating that they were unable to maintain participation in their current dental plan, Midwest Dental, during the 2008 health/dental open enrollment period. The Local contacted the Company, reminding them that both the level of benefits and health and dental plan offerings they choose at retirement must remain available to them post retirement.

The Company, following a review of the programming at Hewitt, found the vendor had incorrectly excluded all retirees from choosing Midwest as a dental plan choice because of its unavailability to active employees for the 2008 plan year. The Company has assured the Local that retiree’s that were either forced to choose or were defaulted into another dental plan will be contacted by mail within the first week of 2008 explaining what went wrong and giving them the choice to either remain in Midwest Dental or move to some other dental plan.