Section 1: Coverage and Benefits
(a) Group Term Life Insurance
The Welfare Plan will include Group Term Life Insurance in accordance with the following Table. Benefits will be payable as a result of death from any cause while insured.
(b) Accidental Death or Dismemberment Insurance
In addition to the above Group Term Life Insurance coverage, the Welfare Plan will include Accidental Death Insurance as outlined in the Table on a twenty-four hour coverage basis.
Attached below is a description of the A.D. & D. insurance protection.
Group Term Life and A.D.& D. Insurance Coverage
| Maximum Insurance Benefits Payable | ||
| Effective Date | Group Term Life | A D & D |
| Date of Ratification | $129,260 | $129,260 |
| May 1, 2026 | $134,430 | $134,430 |
| May 1, 2027 | $138,460 | $138,460 |
| May 1, 2028 | $141,920 | $141,920 |
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage Schedule to reflect current insurance carriers’ benefit levels.
GROUP ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND
DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE
If an employee while insured for this benefit, suffers any of the losses specified in the following Schedule of Losses and Benefits as a result of bodily injury effected directly and independently of all other causes by external, violent and accidental means, and if such loss occurs within 12 months after the date of sustaining such injury, the company will, subject to the provisions of this policy and this benefit, pay the amount provided for such loss in the Schedule of Losses and Benefits. If an employee shall sustain more than one of such losses as a result of any one accident, payment shall be made only for that one loss for which the largest amount is payable.
SCHEDULE OF LOSSES AND BENEFITS
Loss of Life The full sum insured
Loss of Two Hands The full sum insured
Loss of Two Feet The full sum insured
Loss of Sight of Two Eyes The full sum insured
Loss of One Hand & One Foot The full sum insured
Loss of One Hand and Sight of One Eye The full sum insured
Loss of One Foot and Sight of One Eye The full sum insured
Loss of One Hand or One Foot One-half the sum insured
Loss of Sight of One Eye One-half the sum insured
Quadriplegia (Total Paralysis of
Both Upper & Lower Limbs) 200% of the sum insured
Paraplegia (Total Paralysis of Both Lower Limbs) 200% of the sum insured
Hemiplegia (Total Paralysis of Lower and Upper
Limbs on one Side of the Body) 200% of the sum insured
Hand or Foot means severance at or above wrist or ankle joint. Loss of Sight must be entire and irrecoverable.
Limitations
The insurance provided under this benefit shall not, however, be payable for any loss which results from or is caused, directly or indirectly, by any of the following causes:
i. Suicide or self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane.
ii. Injury incurred to which a contributing cause is the employee’s commission of, or attempt to commit, an assault or any criminal offence (excluding an offense related to driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol).
iii. Insurrection of war, whether war be declared or not, or any act or incident thereto, or participation in any riot.
iv. Travel or flight in any aircraft if the employee is a pilot, officer or other member of the crew of the aircraft, or if such flight is made for instructional testing or training purposes, or if the employee is travelling or flying as a passenger or otherwise in any aircraft of a military, naval or air force.
v. Bodily or mental infirmity, or medical or surgical treatment thereof.
vi. The taking of poison or poisonous substances whether voluntary or otherwise.
vii. Injuries of which there is no visible contusion or wound on the exterior of the body, drowning and internal injuries revealed by autopsy excepted.
viii. Accident, injury or other loss caused wholly or partly by disease, infection or medical or surgical treatment thereof, or by hernia ptomaine, or bacterial infection, except only in the case of septic infection caused through a visible wound accidentally sustained.
(c) Non-Occupational Accident and Sickness Insurance
The Welfare Plan will include Non-Occupational Accident and Sickness Insurance in accordance with the table. Weekly Indemnity benefits will be payable beginning with the first day of disability caused by non-occupational accident and beginning with the fourth day of disability caused by non-occupational sickness, except in those cases of non-occupational sickness which resulted in the claimant being hospitalized as a bed patient, and in those cases where surgery is performed which necessitates loss of time from work, the said Weekly Indemnity benefits will be payable beginning with the first day of sickness. Benefits will be payable for a maximum of fifty-two (52) weeks during any one period of disability.
Weekly Indemnity benefits which begin prior to age 65 will continue until the employee has received at least fifteen (15) weeks of benefits, or until the employee is no longer disabled or retires, which ever comes first. Where the employee recovers an amount from a liable third party for loss of income as a result of the same accident or illness, they must reimburse the Plan once they receive 100% of their loss. One hundred percent (100%) of their loss includes gross wages lost.
The premium structure for coverage of an employee over the age of 64 will be as follows:
| First three months | 75% of Normal Premium |
| Second three months | 50% of Normal Premium |
| Third three months | 25% of Normal Premium |
| Last three months | No Premium |
Weekly Indemnity – Attempted Suicide.
Amend Weekly Indemnity Plan to provide for benefits for loss of time as a result of attempted suicide under the Plan provisions covering other mental illnesses. Coverage shall also include injury disability arising from attempted suicide.
Weekly Indemnity – Waiting Period.
Only one (1) waiting period will be required for serious illnesses which require kidney dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation or other similar recurring treatments. This will provide benefits, after the initial waiting period, for any subsequent lost time.
Completion of Forms.
The Company will reimburse employees for the costs of medical forms and specialists reports when required by the WI and LTD carriers. The maximum paid shall be $40.00 for general practitioners and $120.00 for specialists.
The Welfare Plan will include Non-Occupational Accident and Sickness Insurance that will provide a benefit of sixty two percent (62%) of the employee’s regular job rate to the maximums in the following table.
| Maximum Weekly Indemnity Benefits Payable | |
| Effective Date | Benefit Maximum |
| May 1, 2025 | $1,430 |
| May 1, 2026 | $1,490 |
| May 1, 2027 | $1,535 |
| May 1, 2028 | $1,575 |
Note: The increases effective May 1st of each year reflect the benefit being increased in accordance with the general wage increases effective on those dates.
(d) Medical-Surgical Coverage
The Welfare Plan will include the Medical-Surgical Coverage as available through the Medical Services Plan of British Columbia.
It is agreed that the Extended Health Benefit Plan will include the additional coverages as follows:
i. Paramedical Pooling
Licensed naturopaths, licensed occupational therapists, and licensed chiropractors – up to a combined maximum of $400 per person in a calendar year.
ii. One hundred and fifty dollars ($150) per person per calendar year for acupuncture.
iii. One thousand dollars ($1000) per person per calendar year for clinical psychology and registered / clinical counselor.
iv. One hundred dollars ($100) per person per calendar year for speech therapy.
v. Three hundred dollars ($300) per person per calendar year for foot orthotics.
vi. Hearing Aid coverage increased to the maximum benefit payable during a two (2) year calendar year period is $600. Payment will be made for maintenance, batteries or recharging devices or other such accessories.
vii. Four hundred twenty-five dollars ($425) per person per calendar year for registered physiotherapist and registered massage practitioner (each).
viii. Nursing care provisions shall be limited to 720 hours per calendar year.
ix. Professional services of the following practitioners limited to $150 per person or to a maximum of $500 per family in a calendar year:
-
- Osteopath*
- Podiatrist or Chiropodist*
*Physician’s prescription not required
x. The deductible is $70 per person or family each calendar year.
(e). Extended Health Coverage
The Welfare Plan will include the Extended Health Insurance coverage in effect on June 30, 1970.
Extended Health Coverage will include birth control.
(f). Vision Care for Employees and Dependents
The maximum amount payable will be four hundred fifty ($450) per person in any 24 consecutive month period.
It is agreed that effective July 1, 1982; the Extended Health Benefit Plan will include a vision care program as follows:
Payment up to a maximum of four hundred fifty ($450), per person in any 24 consecutive month period, for charges incurred relative to the purchase of and including eye exams, lenses and frames, contact lenses or laser eye surgery when prescribed by a person legally qualified to make such prescription; provided however, that if the eyeglasses are for an employee for use while working in a mill, they must be safety lenses and frames.
(g). Dental Care Plan
The Welfare Plan will include a Dental Care Plan, which will reimburse members for expenses incurred in respect of coverages summarized in this Schedule.
(h). Long Term Disability Plan
(i). Level of Benefits
The Welfare Plan will include a Long Term Disability Plan, effective July 1, 1978 which will provide benefits of 50% of regular weekly earnings calculated at forty (40) times disabled employee’s hourly straight-time job rate at date of onset of disability, plus any negotiated increases to that hourly straight-time job rate which would take place during the elimination period. Other terms and conditions of the Plan and conditions pertaining to its implementation will be established pursuant to the general principle set forth in the Long Term Disability Plan Summary Booklet which will be available from the Human Resources Office.
The Company will remove any limitation in the Long Term Disability Plan related to “Pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage or abortion. Severe complications following termination of pregnancy will however be covered.”
(ii) Elimination Period
Benefits commence after the employee has been totally and continuously disabled for fifty-two (52) weeks or has exhausted their weekly indemnity benefits, whichever occurs last.
(iii) Maximum Duration of L.T.D. Benefit Payments
A disabled employee with less than eleven (11) years of continuous service with Kruger Products Inc. at date of disability will receive benefit payments until reaching age 60.
A disabled employee with eleven (11) or more years of continuous service with Kruger Products Inc. at date of disability will receive benefit payments until reaching age 65.
In all cases, benefit payments will cease on recovery.
Employees receiving either weekly indemnity or LTD benefit payments on July 1, 1988 and continue to be disabled will also be eligible for the extended benefit period described above.
(iv) Integration with Other Disability Income
(a) The benefit from this plan combined with all other disability income to which the disabled employee is entitled will not exceed 80% of the employee’s basic wage at date of disability or recalculation.
All other disability income will include C.P.P./Q.P.P. primary disability pension benefits, WorkSafeBC, disability income from a group or association plan, disability income arising out of any law or legislation, and wage continuation or pension plan including the Pulp and Paper Industry Pension Plan. Private or individual disability plan benefits of the disabled employee will not reduce the benefit from this plan.
In the event that all other disability income reduces the payment from this plan below $25.00 per month, this plan will nevertheless pay a minimum of $25.00 per month from the date disability income commences.
(b) Increases in C.P.P./Q.P.P. disability pensions or WorkSafeBC disability pensions that result from increases in the Canada Consumer Price Index and which occur after the date disability payments from this plan commences will not further reduce the benefits from this plan.
(c) Employees who are under age 60 years of age will have their future disability benefit recalculated by applying the contractual wage increases that were applied in each year, during the period of their disability, to their long term disability benefit.
The recalculated weekly benefit when combined with all other disability income to which the disabled employee is receiving will not exceed 80% of 40 hours multiplied by the regular wage rate in effect at the time of the recalculation.
(v) When an employee becomes totally disabled under this plan, they shall have the option of taking all outstanding earned time off with pay, such as vacations, supplementary vacations, statutory holidays, special (personal) floating holidays and any half-time portion of banked overtime.