FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ARE PROVIDING FREE COVID-19 TESTS     President Niccollai reported today that there are several sources from which individuals can obtain free COVID-19 tests.  Late yesterday afternoon, both the United States Government and the Unites States Postal Service put up websites through which those seeking at-home tests could have them mailed to their residence.   The sites are as follows:   1. COVIDtests.gov which is a Government site that will provide four free at-home tests that will ship in 7-12 days.   2...
SUPREME COURT BLOCKS VAX OR TEST BIDEN MANDATE FOR ALL BUT HEALTH CARE WORKERS President Niccollai reported today that the Biden Mandate requiring all Employers with 100 or more employees to implement a program for proof of vaccination or weekly COVID testing will not go into effect except for Health Care workers.  Many of our Brothers and Sisters were extremely upset by this mandate and numerous questions arose as to who would pay for the testing and whether it could be performed at store-level by a third-party.  For the time being, we will not have to grapple with all the problems...
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022 HEALTH INSURANCE WILL REIMBURSE FOR AT-HOME COVID TESTS President Niccollai announced today, on behalf of the Union Reimbursement Medical Plan, that there will be a modification to cover the cost of At-Home COVID Tests for members and their eligible dependents under a program requiring the submission of a claim form, accompanied by a receipt acknowledging proof of purchase.   These tests are not appropriate for unvaccinated members to submit to Employers in order to comply with the Biden vax or test mandate, since they are not administered by a third-party as...
UPDATE ON COVID TESTING FOR NON-VACCINATED MEMBERS As we get closer to the February 9, 2022 deadline for employees either being vaccinated or tested, we continue negotiations with our Employers.   Obviously, as we stated in our previous posting of December 30, 2021 we are vehemently opposed to the cost of the tests being paid by the employee. In our discussions with Employers, we are exploring any and all options that will allow us to reach a satisfactory course of action.  As the deadline approaches, we expect to agree on a proposal which is in the best interest of our members...