The Retirees' Association (Faculty, Librarian, Administrator) at Windsor was formed in 1990, to give a unified voice to retirees; to provide a bridge for communication with the University; to encourage social contact among the retirees; and to open a few doors through which retirees could continue to contribute to the University of Windsor.

Thus the Association is meant to fill what could otherwise be a void in the lives of retirees - possible isolation from the University and from their former colleagues; and possible lack of understanding of vital pension and health issues that affect them directly.

There are only two meetings of the full membership per year: in the spring and the fall. An informal social committee arranges several other events per year - dinners, plays, picnics, and so on -all of which are paid for by those who take part. The Association encourages smaller special interest groups to form as occasion and their interests warrant. Because of extreme economy of operation, dues have been kept at the level of $10 per year. This includes five issues of The Retirees' Newsletter .

Officers of the Association are:

President: Stan Cunningham

Secretary: Datta Pillay

Treasurer & Membership: Phyllis Nolan

Elected Members of the Executive

Committee:Bob Chandler; Joseph Habowsky,

Alan Metcalfe and Gerard Monforton

Ex Officio Members:

Immediate Past President: Kumar Chatterjee

Founding President: Norm Shklov

Committee Chairs:

Social Committee: John LaGaipa

Bursary Fund Committee: Cormac Smith

The Association's Address is:

Faculty/Librarian Retirees' Association,

University of Windsor Post Office,

Windsor, ON. N9B 3P4

Email: pillay@uwindsor.ca

Home Page: http://www.uwindsor.ca/newsstnd/uwflra/index.html

Newsletter online:

http://www.uwindsor.ca/newsstnd/uwflra/news.htm

Retirees who chose option three family coverage received notification, from the Human Resources (HR) Office, stating, effective May 1, 1999, their premiums have gone up from $ 102.54 to $ 128.92, which is a 25.72 percent increase, without any advance warning. The reasons stated in the HR letter, for the increase, referred to a one year review by Greenshield (GS)-"unlike previous years ...there was a 95.64% increase in the usage of the extended health care benefit and the out of country benefit as well". This seems to be a very narrow and casual analysis to justify such a hefty increase, without any dialogue.

Individual Canada Trust Pension Statements received by retirees indicate, that premiums are collected at the old rate (May & June). If the July statement again falls behind in collecting the new fees, then we all would be subject to collection of arrears in a single month's pension whichever one it happens to be.

Several phone calls were directed to HR and the undersigned sent a letter to Mr. Jim Skinner seeking answers to the following questions.

1. When did the Greenshield notify the University of Windsor(UW) about the rate increase. Did the UW have any choice in the matter.

2. Did the GS give reasons for a such a hefty increase in premiums at a short notice.

3.Could you give us the percentage rate of increase in premiums for the University and current faculty and staff.

4. I heard that Great West Life Insurance Company offers terminate at age 75. Do individual members have the option to switch over to this company if they wish?

5. Given the shortfall in government health plans, can we expect any further assistance from UW.

We received an email few weeks ago from Jim Skinner stating that he and Mr. Jim Butler are preparing a reply to the above questions. We are eagerly awaiting their response.

Frequent government actions in delisting several drugs which were previously covered under GS plan; places a great burden on aging retirees, since costs of purchasing drugs over the counter are going to escalate. Should we retirees, when we first formed the Association foreseen the handwriting on the wall and demanded full health coverage, similar to CAW , Ontario Hydro and Civil service retirees, who all receive full health benefits after retirement. Or now could we hold our breath and expect current active faculty members/librarians to take a tough stand on behalf of the retirees, with the Faculty Association to substantially modify the Collective Agreement. Only time will tell!

Datta Pillay

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