Survivor benefits in the event of a duty death, non-service but active death, or retiree death are some of the most complicated benefit structures in public employment. Federal, state, and local government as well as private insurance companies and retirement systems all offer survivor benefits - unfortunately all these benefits have different qualifications and payouts to the survivor and family.

Local 1014 will soon (following our next election battle) seek to consolidate the information on survivor benefits and try to prepare a comprehensive information source for survivor benefits. In addition to providing information, the Local would like to provide training for peers and union leadership to give advice on survivor benefits to our own members and to other unions in the region that may need the information. This project is a major undertaking, one the Local has wanted to do for several years, but also too time consuming for our board to do on our own.  We need the help of some talented members.

Any volunteers should have experience in benefits counseling (chaplains, association reps), business writing or desktop publishing, or some experience administering benefits to employees (yes, Chiefs are welcome). Expect a two-year commitment and a few "live" meetings, but most of the work will be done via computer and conference calls in a committee format.  If you have talent in these areas, please apply.  This promises to be a worthwhile project that will greatly benefit your brothers and sisters.

Please e-mail willp@local1014.org for more information.