Current Opt Out Payments to Eligible Members

At the contract ratification meeting on May 5, 2026, we discussed the terms of the proposed tentative agreements, which included a reduction to the Health & Welfare opt-out payments from 50% to 30% of the employers’ CAP rate.

Once the membership ratified the contract on May 12, 2026, the new terms went into effect retroactively to February 1, 2026.

There was also a retroactive 3.5% wage increase that was paid to the members.

The insurance buyout checks dated April 30, 2026, reflected the gross amount from the previous contract (through January 31, 2026).

Because the first quarterly payment of $1,950.00 was issued under the old rate before ratification, the actual retroactively adjusted amount should have been $1,240.20. To correct this $709.80 overpayment, the employer adjusted your second quarterly opt-out payment down to $530.40.

The 3rd and 4th quarterly payments will be in the amount of $1,240.20. Under the new contract (effective through January 31, 2029), the employer CAP rate will increase from $1,300.00 to $1,378.00, and your quarterly payments will be 30% of this amount.