Prerequisites for choosing a Floorlayers Union Apprenticeship

Floorlayer Union Apprenticeship

The BC Floorlayers Union Local 1541 is the largest supporter of the Floorcovering Union Apprenticeship in British Columbia.

Becoming an ITA registered apprentice and working towards a Red Seal Journeyperson Certification is a great first step to becoming a recognized tradesperson across Canada. Floorcovering is a very rewarding career that instills pride in seeing the finished product of your work.

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Floorlayers Union Apprentices work alongside certified journeypersons and receive on-the-job training

All instructors at the Floorlayers Union Apprenticeship program in our Training Center continually upgrade their skills to pass on the most current information and techniques to floorcovering apprentices and journeypersons. To ensure your training is of the highest caliber in the country, a group of industry specialists with expertise in floorcovering subject matter, review and revise the curriculum to provide the most up-to-date information in the floorcovering industry.

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Key Attributes An

Apprentice Should Possess

  • Good physical condition

  • A positive attitude

  • Ability to work well with others

  • Strong communication skills

  • Apply safe work practices

  • Solid organizational skills

  • Good command of the English language

  • Minimum grade 10 education

STANDARD COVERAGE

HEALTH CARE BENEFITS

Floorlayers Benefit Plan

The Floorlayers Benefit Plan Trust Fund is designed for members of floor covering local unions in the Province of British Columbia to offer protection and security for organized workers in the floor covering industry. 

This text contains a brief outline of the benefits and features provided by the Fund. It is by no means complete but issued so that you will have a clear understanding of how the Plan operates for the benefit of you and your family.

The plan provides $500.00 vision care coverage every 24 months, which can also be used toward laser eye surgery. Claim forms are available from the union office, who will be issuing reimbursement.

DO NOT send eyeglass forms to Pacific Blue Cross. Eye exams are covered to a $100.00 max thru Pacific Blue Cross every 24 months.

Is provided by Pacific Blue Cross. Some additional expenses are covered by Pharmacare. 

  • Drug reimbursement for Pharmacare eligible drugs is 80% and 50% for non Pharmacare eligible drugs. 
  • Prescription drug limit for the plan is $7,500.00 per family member per calendar year.

Members with expenses over the Pharmacare Plan limit should also claim on their spouses plan if available. Extended Health limit is $100,000.00 per person in a 24 month period. 

There is a limit of $2,500.00 total per calendar year per family.

Provides a payment of $638 per week for 15 weeks when sick or unable to work because of a non-occupational disability. Benefits are paid from the fourth day of a disability due to a non-occupational illness. The Plan is co-ordinated with E.I. Medical Benefits which provide an additional 15 weeks for those who qualify. Members who receive wage indemnity qualify for disability credits

Is provided by Chubbs Insurance in the amount of $10,000 for member and $5,000 for spouse. Benefits can be used by Plan Members as they see fit and are non taxable. This coverage is for specific illnesses and subject to limitations, for details please reference the Critical Illness booklet.

The Plan pays 90% of the cost of services provided under Part A which generally includes diagnostic, preventative and restorative services and the general day-to-day dentistry. 

The Plan pays 80% of the cost of dentures and 70% of the cost of other services provided under Part B, which are the more expensive services such as crowns and bridges. The maximum amount that will be paid by the Plan for any one member or any registered dependent is $2,500.00 in any calendar year for Part A and B.

In addition the Plan pays 60% coverage of $3,000.00 lifetime maximum ($3,000.00 paid by the Plan).

$100,000 under a group policy payable to the beneficiary designated by the member in the event of death while insured under the group policy. Members are covered to the age of 65.

In addition to the life insurance benefit, $50,000 will be paid for accidental death. In addition, for loss of or dismemberment please contact the benefit plan for the breakdown.

$10,000 life insurance on the spouse of the member who has been registered with the Plan.

60% of wages plus holiday pay, welfare plan credits for days the member serves as a juror. 30% of wages plus holiday pay, welfare plan credits for days the member reports and doesn’t serve. The member also keeps the regular jury duty pay.

60% of the member’s wage rate plus 8% holiday pay for each date of entitlement.

For the death of the member’s spouse, common-law spouse, children, step-children, father, mother, sister, brother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandmother or grandfather. The Plan pays up to a maximum of 3 days at $160.00 a day for a maximum of $480.00.

 For the death of the member’s brother, sister, father-in-law or mother-in-law 1 day of benefits will be paid. 

In the event of a member having both a father and a stepfather, (mother/stepmother) pass away, only one bereavement claim will be processed. 

Should a member’s spouse pass away and he/she remarries and consequently the second spouse passes away, a second claim will be allowed.

Clinical Counsellor has a maximum limit of $2,500 payable per family per calendar year. Registered Psychologist has a maximum limit of $1,500 payable per person per calendar year. These are fully confidential services, which are administered independently of your employer and the union.

Members on Wage Indemnity, E.I. Medical Benefits or Workers’ compensation are awarded approximately 4 hours each calendar day they are disabled that count towards maintaining their coverage while unable to work. Members are required to submit their proof of payment from E.I. or Workers’ Compensation before credits are awarded. Such proof must be submitted in a timely matter and within six months of date of receipt of lost wage payment. Once a member on Workers Compensation has been transferred from wage loss and placed into a vocational rehabilitation program the member no longer qualifies for credit.

Apprentices are awarded hours dependent on their attendance in order to maintain coverage while attending technical training.

The hour bank system is designed so the employer pays the negotiated hourly rate on behalf of each employee coming within the scope of the collective agreement. The hours are accumulated in the member’s individual hour bank account to provide the health and welfare coverage when eligibility requirements are fulfilled. Regardless of which participating employer you are employed with, all your hours are channeled to the Administrator and are credited to your account.

You must be a member of a participating local union or a management employee of a participating employer. You must file completed enrollment cards with the Administrator. A minimum of 350 hours must be reported and paid to the Plan on your behalf by a participating employer within a period of four consecutive months.

Your coverage begins on the first day of the month following the month in which all of these requirements are fulfilled.

Once you have qualified, 130 hours are withdrawn each month from your hour bank to pay for coverage under the Plan. You may accumulate up to six months coverage (780 hours) which can be used during a period of reduced employment, illness or extended vacation.

Your coverage will continue for as long as your hour bank contains sufficient hours and provided you remain a member of the union.

If your hour bank drops below 130 hours, you will receive a shortage notice on the payment you must make to maintain coverage for one month. If you wish to maintain your coverage, you must make a self payment for the number of hours that you are short at the contribution rate stated on the notice. Payment must be made immediately on receipt of the notice and be received by the 15th day of the current month.

THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE CONTINUOUS COVERAGE IS TO PAY THE SHORTAGE BY THE DATE SPECIFIED ON THE NOTICE.

Sometimes shortages occur because your employer did not report your hours on time, your name was accidentally left off the report, or an error was made in the number of hours reported under an incorrect Social Insurance Number. You should keep your pay slips in the event that any errors do occur.

Also, remember there is a lag month. For example, the January hours your employer remits go towards March coverage. If you received a shortage notice in January requesting payment for February coverage, the shortage should be paid by the 15th of January.

Self-pay limitations permit the member to self pay the full 130 hours per month for a maximum of six consecutive months at a subsidized rate. Following this, an additional 6 months will be offered to the member at the full self-pay rate. Members on full self pay do not qualify for the wage indemnity, jury duty benefits or bereavement leave

Your coverage is provided on a whole month basis and will terminate on the last day of the month if your hour bank falls below the 130 hours and you fail to make the required payment by the specified date on your shortage notice. Coverage automatically terminates if you cease to be a member of the union.

If you fail to pay a shortage notice and your hour bank remains below 130 hours you will receive a termination notice.

In case of death, the member’s dependents will continue to be covered for as long as there are sufficient hours in your hour bank.

Call or write:

Floorlayers Benefit Plan

#200- 580 Ebury Place, Delta, B.C. Canada, V3M 6M8

Phone: 604-524-6900
Fax: 604-524-6919

The following claim forms and cards are available at the union office:

  1. Enrollment forms for MSP and PBCWage Indemnity claim forms
  2. Extended Health Care claim forms
  3. Jury Duty claim forms
  4. Change of Status forms for MSP and PBC
  5. Designation of Beneficiary form for life insurance
  6. Designation of Spouse forms for spousal insurance
  7. Bereavement Leave claim forms

PENSION PLAN

As of January 1, 2019 the Floorlayers Pension Plan merged with the Alberta Carpenters and Allied Workers Pension Plan (ACAW). Please contact the ACAW Trust Fund office with any pension questions you may have.

Alberta Carpenters & Allied Workers Trust Funds

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