8. Benefits
8.01 GROUP LIFE INSURANCE
1. The School Division shall administer the Manitoba Public School Employees’ Group Life Insurance Plan according to the terms and conditions of the Master Policy of the said plan, and subject to the limitations set out in Article 3.
2. All Teachers coming on staff after the effective date of the implementation of the Plan in the School Division shall be required to participate in the plan.
3. The School Division’s responsibility with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be limited to the following:
a) Deducting premiums from the Teachers;
b) Enrolling newly hired Teachers in the Plan;
c) Maintaining records of the Teachers who are and who are not insured, including maintaining files of application cards, late applicants, Teachers whose coverage was rejected on late applications, beneficiary designations, and Teachers whose coverage has terminated on leaving the School Division;
d) Completing a premium statement to accompany premium remittances;
e) Providing claim forms to Teachers or beneficiaries on request;
f) Completing and submitting the Employer Claim submission for claimants;
g) Conducting periodic reopening for Accidental Death and Dismemberment applications.
8.02 EXTENDED HEALTH BENEFIT AND DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN
1. The School Division will participate in the administration of the Manitoba Public School Employees Dental and Extended Health Benefits Plan(s), (MPSE Dental and EHB Plan(s)) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement entered into by the School Division and the Association attached hereto as the collateral agreement.
2. All Teachers covered by this Collective Agreement that are eligible under the terms of the MPSE Dental Plan and EHB Plan(s) shall be required to participate in the MPSE Dental and EHB Plan(s) unless entitled to elect out of the Dental and/or EHB Plan(s) as may be permitted under the terms thereof.
3. The cost of the MPSE Dental and EHB Plan(s) will be paid by the School Division in accordance with the terms and conditions of the MPSE Dental and EHB Plan(s) Agreement.
4. The School Division agrees that the School Division’s monthly contribution to the MPSE Dental and EHB Plan(s) on behalf of each Teacher will be the monthly rate for family coverage (that is, entitlement to coverage for an Teacher, their spouse/partner, and their dependent children), having regard to the definition of spouse and dependent children in the Dental and EHB Plan(s). Provided that an Teacher may elect, in the prescribed form, for reduced coverage as permitted under the terms of the MPSE Dental and EHB Plan(s) in which case the School Division agrees to make monthly payments to the Teacher as follows:
a. A Teacher with only one dependent (spouse or child) who is entitled to and does so duly elect to opt down from family coverage under the Dental Plan to coverage for Teacher and one other family member only, shall receive an amount equal to the difference in the monthly rate between family coverage and coverage for an Teacher and one dependent only; or
b. A Teacher with neither spouse nor dependent children who is entitled to and does so duly elect to opt down from family coverage under the MPSE Dental and Extended Health Plan(s) to coverage for an Teacher only, shall receive an amount equal to the difference in the monthly rate between family coverage and coverage for an Teacher only; or
c. A Teacher who is entitled to and does so duly elect to opt out of all coverage on the basis that the Teacher’s spouse has group extended health plan and dental coverage, shall receive an amount equal to the monthly rate for family coverage.
8.03 MTS SHORT TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS PLAN
The School Division agrees to administer The Manitoba Teachers’ Society Short Term Disability Benefits Plan effective on the date of signing, under the following terms and conditions:
1. The School Division shall deduct from Teachers’ salaries the full premium costs prescribed by the Plan and shall forward such premiums on a monthly basis to the Plan.
2. All eligible Teachers shall be enrolled in the Plan and shall participate in the Plan, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
3. Any Teacher entering the School Division’s employ shall be enrolled automatically in the Plan and shall have deducted monthly from their salary the amount of premiums specified by the Plan.
4. The School Division’s responsibility with respect to the administration of this Plan, shall be limited to the following: a) Deducting premiums from the Teachers; b) Enrolling newly hired Teachers in the Plan; c) Completing a premium statement to accompany premium remittances; d) Distributing plan information to Teachers from time to time; e) Completing a Short Term Disability Notification Form and submitting it to the Plan when a Teacher has been absent from teaching and where the sickness or disability may result in the filing of a claim(s) or benefit(s), as per the requirement of the plan.
5. Save and except for the express responsibilities set out in Article 8.03 4., the Society acknowledges and agrees that the School Division neither has nor assumes any responsibility whatsoever with respect to any aspect of the Short Term Disability Plan.
6. the Society shall indemnify and save the School Division from any and all losses, costs, liabilities, or expenses suffered or sustained by the School Division as a result of any claim or legal action arising from the deduction of premiums or exercise of other responsibilities with respect to the Short Term Disability Plan.
7. The Association will continue to receive five twelfths (5/12) of the EI Premium Reduction as a result of the Sick Leave Plan and the Short Term Disability Plan.
8.04 MTS LONG TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS PLAN
1. The School Division shall deduct from Teachers’ salaries the full premium costs prescribed by the MTS Disability Benefits Plan (the Plan) and shall forward such premiums on a monthly basis to the Plan.
2. All Teachers shall be enrolled and participate in the Plan, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
3. Any eligible Teacher on a limited term or general teaching contract over forty (40) days in length and over 0.3 FTE who enters the School Division’s employ shall be enrolled in the Plan and shall have deducted monthly from their salary the amount of premiums specified by the Plan.
4. The School Division’s responsibility with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be limited to the following: a) Deducting premiums from the Teachers; b) Enrolling newly hired Teachers in the Plan; c) Maintaining records of the Teachers who are and are not insured, including maintaining files of late applicants, Teachers whose coverage was rejected on late application, and Teachers whose coverage has terminated on leaving the School Division; d) Completing a premium statement to accompany premium remittances; e) Distributing plan information to Teachers from time to time; f) Completing the Disability Notification Form and submitting it to the Plan after a Teacher has been absent ten (10) consecutive days and where the sickness or disability may result in the filing of a claims for benefits; g) Reporting to the Plan salary changes for Teachers in receipt of benefits.
5. Save and except for the deduction and remittance of premiums, and the express responsibilities set out in Article 8.04 4., the Society acknowledges and agrees that the School Division neither has nor assumes any responsibility whatsoever to any aspect of this Disability Benefits Plan administered by the Society.
6. The Society shall indemnify and save harmless the School Division from any and all losses, costs, liabilities or expenses suffered or sustained by the School Division as a result of any claim or legal action arising from the deduction of premiums or exercise of other responsibilities with respect to the Disability Benefits Plan.
8.05 EARLY NOTICE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
School Divisions may from time to time provide an incentive program for Teachers to provide advance notice of a Teacher’s retirement date as part of the School Division’s human resource strategy. The details of this plan shall be discussed with the local Association for consultation and input. When an Early Retirement Incentive Plan (ERIP) is implemented, it will be for a specific demonstrable need and for a finite time period. The ERIP shall not automatically renew unless the Parties mutually agree to extend or modify it. The Parties agree that the incentive components of a School Division’s ERIP may vary from year to year and that different School Divisions who choose to implement an ERIP may be different from one another.
8.06 PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
Anywhere that a School Division and Association have a jointly administered professional development fund in their 2018-2022 Collective Agreement shall continue to operate the fund with funding provided by the School Division. Appendix #6 includes all current professional development provisions in previous local collective agreements.