Keep Up Your Guard!
Maintain 6 feet of Distance between Yourself and Others.
Wear Your Cloth Face Covering while in Public.
YOU MUST WEAR YOUR FACEMASK
WHILE IN THE UNION HALL!
Volume 31, Number 5 MAY, 2020
End of Liberal Leave Period
Deadline for COVID-19 L.O.A. is May 18th
The extended Liberal Leave period we have been operating under these last months is set to end
on Monday, May 18th. At the same time, we will be transitioning to the new two shift schedule of either
6:00 am – 2:30 pm or 6:00 pm – 2:30 am. These are big changes for all of us, and we must keep up our
guard, and our new safety habits in order to continue protecting ourselves, our fellow workers, and our
families from the coronavirus. We must continue to keep our distance, wear our masks when around
others and restrict our exposure to other people as much as we can. These efforts are working and, if the
conditions continue to improve, Governor Northam says we may be able to begin the fi rst phase of lift-
ing the restrictions within the month.
Those of us who fall under the CARES act categories outlined on the previous Liberal Leave
form, and those of us whose personal circumstances otherwise warrant more caution, may need to con-
tinue staying home rather than returning to work. The company is requiring all employees who choose
not to return to the shipyard after the end of the Liberal Leave period to either apply for any applicable
Short Term Disability through Sickness and Accident (S&A 688-3800) or to request an Unpaid Leave of
Absence.
This COVID-19 PERSONAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE is separate and distinct from a standard
Leave of Absence. It does not count toward the maximum of two leave periods in a single year, nor
does it require that the employee have used half of their vacation in order to use it. It must be taken in
a single unit of any length from 5 working days up to 120 calendar days. Any employee who takes this
leave must return at their specifi ed Return to Work Date or they will be automatically dropped from
roll. Using this Leave of Absence will disqualify you for accruing paid Personal Time (PT) during any
quarter in which it was used, as well as any holiday pay you would have received or progression toward
your next raise or vacation time accrual. Employees will be required to call in once every 5 working days
while on this leave. Anyone who wishes to use it should apply by May 18th, we are including a copy of
the necessary form with this issue of the Voyager.
Page 2 MAY, 2020
Local 8888
Contributing Staff
Aaron McCann X43, Staff Member
Jordan Patterson X33, Staff Member
The Voyager is published by Local 8888, Newport News.
The Voyager is distributed free of charge to employees of
Huntington Ingalls Industries by Local 8888 USW.
Deadline Reminder:
Please remember that all information, articles and
material to be included in the next “Voyager” must
be delivered in writing to the Union Hall or emailed
by Friday, May 29, 2020 “The Voyager” email
address is: [email protected]coxmail.com
From the
From the
President’s Desk
President’s Desk
Executive Board
President-Charles Spivey
Vice President-Linwood Parrish
Recording Secretary-Ashley Seabrook
Financial Secretary-Verna Chamberliss
Treasurer -Carolyn Ezell
Guide-Phyllis Sessoms
Guard-Chris Puckett
Guard -Gloria Patterson
Trustee-Raymond Lewis
Trustee -Victor Boone
Trustee-Alycia Allen
Grievance Chairman-Harvey Bowden
Offi ce
4306 Huntington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23607
Phone: 247-5291 / Fax: 247-0321
Voyager E-mail: [email protected]coxmail.com
Offi ce Hours: Daily 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
United Steelworkers AFL-CIO-CLC
District Director - Ernest(Billy) Thompson
International Offi cers
Thomas Conway, President • John Shinn, Sec/Treasurer
David McCall, Vice-President, Administration
Fred Redmond, Vice-President, Human Affairs
www.usw8888.com
Offi ce: Five Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Charles Spivey
Greetings Union Brothers and Sisters:
We are still praying you and your families
are safe and healthy. We know these have been an
uncomfortable two months that we had to deal with
this COVID-19 issue. I trust that we all have done
what’s best for our families. After all that’s what
matters the most to us.
As we, as a country, Company and Union
try to get our lives back to normal, please continue
to take all necessary precautions. We don’t know
if the worst is over or not. Our health and families’
safety are our primary objectives.
I still hear and address as many of your
concerns as possible. I’ve stepped back from writ-
ing and doing television interviews, mainly because
of being misquoted or advice from those who are in
higher authority. We would love to give you every
detail of our discussions with the Company and the
International Union on your behalf, but that is not
feasible. Our discussions include safety concerns
about wearing masks, hazardous pay, social dis-
tancing, shift changes and much more. Until we get
positive answers that are best for you, I’d rather
not talk about them.
I understand many of our members are
frustrated. I’m frustrated myself. But let me as-
sure you we are fi ghting as hard as we can behind
the scenes. We will continue that fi ght. We will
never forget what we had to deal with during the
past months. I’m not upset with some of the nega-
tive comments thrown at me. I was elected by the
people and they have a right to expect me to keep
them protected and get the best compensation for
the service given to this company. It comes with
the job. Keep pushing. Call me with your con-
cerns and leave a voicemail with a number that I
can return your call. We will get through this and
become a better person, Company, Country and
Union by the Grace of God.
Continued on Page 3
MAY, 2020 Page 3
Special Benefi ts
Committee
Verna M. Chamberliss, Chair, X42
WEAR YOUR FACEMASK IN THE UNION HALL!
DELTA DENTAL OPEN ENROLLMENT
SIGN UP PERIOD JUNE 1 THRU JULY 31, 2020
Coverage Effective October 1, 2020
Information available at your Local Union Hall
Every Wednesday and Thursday 8 AM - 4:30 PM
During the sign up period.
The two Plans offered with no rate or benefi t
changes are
Delta Dental PPO and
Delta Dental EPO Plan
USW LOCAL 8888
4306 Huntington Avenue
Newport News, VA 23607
Contact Special Benefi ts at (757)247-5291 ext 118
You do not need to complete a new enrollment form UNLESS YOU ARE MAKING CHANGES;
All New Enrollees Will Be Eligible for Exciting Prize Drawings
IMPORTANT!!!
UNION MEMBERS MUST NOTIFY THE UNION TO TERMINATE
COVERAGE IF YOU TERMINATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND/OR
EMPLOYMENT, RETIRE, BECOME SALARIED, GO OUT ON SICK/
ACCIDENT/DISABILITY OR NO LONGER WANT COVERAGE.
You will need the Social Security Numbers
of those you intend to enroll.
AAflac
BBENEFITS FOR UUSW LLOCAL 8888 OOpen Enrollment
AAll NNew Enrollees wwill be Eligible for Exciting Prize Drawings
Ennrollment –– JJUUNE 33
rrd
tthru JJULY 31
SST
CCoverage Effective –– SSEPT. 11, 2020
Information Available at your Union Hall – every Wednesday & Thursday – 8 AM to 4:30 PM
You do not have to re-enroll if you do not want to make changes Phone: (757) 247 – 5291 ext. 118
ALL AFLAC POLICIES PAY CASH
BENEFITS
DIRECTLY TO THE POLICYHOLDER
DDisability –– PPays from 1
sst
DDay for
aaccidents –– aafter 7 days for Sickness.
CCritical Illness -- PPays $15,000 for
llisted critical illnesses (Heart Attack –
Stroke – Cancer, etc.)
AAccident -- ppays benefits for covered
aaccidents that happen on or off tthe
jjob.
HHospital Plan –– ppays cash benefits to you
wwhen confined in the hospital for any
rreason.
LLife Insurance –– WWith “ratelock” –– bbuilds
ccash value –– kkeep it your whole life! Even
tthrough retirement –– aavailable for family.
2
0
2
0
E
E
Visit your Local online!
WWW.USW8888.ORG
FACEBOOK.COM/USWL8888
TWITTER.COM/USWL8888
INSTAGRAM.COM/USWL8888
YOUTUBE.COM/USWL8888
TEXT
LU888
To
47486
To Recieve
Mobile
Alerts
Annual Enrollment for Delta Dental and
Afl ac is coming soon. Be on the look-out for the
date. If you have not completed your Annual
Enrollment for your medical benefi ts and updated
your tobacco status, you can still do so by calling
the Huntington Ingalls Benefi ts Center (HIBC) at
1-877-216-3222. They are open Monday – Friday
9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Remember the new plan year
starts July 1, 2020, so you must call before then. If
you do not update your tobacco status, you will be
paying premiums as a tobacco user.
Many of our Union events have been can-
celled. The Summer Institute for District 8888
will not be held this year. The USW International
Convention is postponed until 2022.
Finally, brothers and sisters, stay safe and
protect your families and yourself as we begin to
return to a new normal.
Solidarity Forever
Charles Spivey
President Local 8888
Page 4 MAY, 2020
MAY, 2020 Page 5
Announcements
Union
CALENDAR
MAY/
JUNE
2020
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Monthly Membership Meeting
-CANCELED-
Deadline for
“Voyager” will be May 29, 2020
We will resume our outreach
efforts upon the conclusion
of this pandemic.
May 25, 2020
BIRTHDAYS
Kenneth Christian (X-33) May 25
Max Elliot-Blunt (X-36) - May 26
A.C. Boone (O-38) - May 27
Sheila Harrison (X-33) - May 27
Felicia Harvey (O-46) - May 27
Melvin Perry (X-33) - May 27
Tiffani Eley (X-15) - May 28
**IMPORTANT**
Union members must notify the Union to
terminate coverage.
If you terminate your membership and/or employment, retire,
become salaried, go out on Sick/
Accident/ disability or
no longer want Dental/Afl ac coverage.
In order to protect our members and the public, as
well as comply with CDC Guidance: All Community Out-
reach and Social Events, as well as Monthly Membership
Meetings are postponed for the duration of the crisis. Please
watch for more information going forward on our website
and social media. Thank you for your patience.
Resources For SteelWorkers
USW International
COVID-19 www.usw.org/members/coronavirus-resources
Resources Page
COVID-19 Phone Line 1-844-243-8749
Press “2” For Medical Clearance/ Badge Re-Activation
Press “3” For Temporary Flexible Work Arrangements
TELADOC teladoc.com
24/7, 365 Doctor Consultation 1-800-835-2362
$10 Fee Waived for General Medicine and Behavior Consultations
Sickness and Accident
Leave of Absence 688-3800
FMLA and COVID-19 Medical Leave
May Require Documentation 688-8006
Contact Labor Relations
Kashable www.kashable.com
Payroll Deduction Loans 646-663-4353
YOU MUST WEAR YOUR FACEMASK IN THE UNION HALL!
All Union Services and Committees remain available for our mem-
bers. However we are not allowing walk-in consultations at this time.
Please call the Union Hall (247-5291) ahead of time to make an
appointment with the appropriate Committee, leave a message with your
Name, Phone Number, and a brief summary of your concern. Please be
patient during this trying time.
Page 6 MAY, 2020
Montagna Klein Camden, LLP
Counselors at law
Charles Montagna John Klein Gregory Camden
All Injured Workers
During the Coronavirus pandemic, many employers have been forced to furlough
employees or reduce their working hours. If you suffered a work injury and returned to work with
light duty restrictions that prevented you from doing your pre-injury job, you might be entitled to
additional workers compensation benefits. Here are some examples:
Temporary Total Disability Benefits: If you were working light duty for your employer and were laid off
of the job due to the Coronavirus you may be entitled to your full temporary total disability benefits while
you wait to be called back to work, or while the employer tries to find other work for you;
Temporary Partial Disability Benefits: If you are working light duty, but your employer is not letting you
work overtime or has reduced the number of hours you are working, you may be entitled to temporary
partial disability benefits to supplement your wages to the same amount you were earning before you were
injured;
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits: Even if you are continuing to work, if you suffered a permanent
injury to your arms, legs, eyes or ears, you may be entitle to permanent partial disability benefits. These
are payments the employer owes you for the loss of use of the extremity and are paid even if you are earning
your regular wages. Please note that many employers will tell you that you cannot recover these benefits
for hearing loss until you retire. This is not accurate. You can pursue the benefits now if you have a noise
induced hearing loss. Then when you retire, if you suffer additional hearing loss, you can pursue a
supplemental claim at that time.
If you have questions about any of the above benefits, or need
assistance pursuing these benefits, please contact us at 757-622-8100.
425 Monticello Avenue 4302 Huntington Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23510 Newport News, Virginia 23607
757-622-8100 www.montagnalaw.com 757-380-8100
Family Law Traffic Court Workers’ Compensation Claims
DUI/DWI Personal Injury Social Security
MAY, 2020 Page 7
Have you checked out the article online regarding Attorney Morring? Morring Law
continues its’ fight for injured workers and the disabled. If you or a loved one needs
an experienced attorney, call Morring Law at 1-855-MOR-COMP.
Here's a snippet of the article:
When Charlene Morring was asked about why she chose to pursue worker
compensation she answered by saying “[Growing up], my father was a very hard
worker. I saw him get injured at work like three or four times, it was crazy.”
Questions? Give our office a call. We are here to FIGHT for you!
Phone No: (757) 223-1107
Licensed in Virginia and North Carolina
www.morringlaw.com
Page 8 MAY, 2020
INJURED
AT THE SHIPYARD?
We’ve fought and won thousands of cases
for injured shipyard workers.
When you are injured, your employer is no longer calling
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corporate insurance company is. That’s why you need a
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4702 Washington Ave, Newport News, VA 23607
