Editors Guild Chief Cathy Repola Reappointed To Board Of MPIPHP, Which Eases Requirement For Health Coverage During Strikes
04.08.2023 - 02:17
/ deadline.com
Cathy Repola, national executive directors of the Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700, has been reappointed to the board of directors of the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans, which cover members of IATSE and several other below-the-line unions.
Her reappointment comes after a very public falling out with IATSE President Matt Loeb back in 2018, when he unceremoniously booted off the P&H Plans’ board after she was the only IATSE local leader to oppose the ratification of the union’s film and TV contract.
Two weeks after her return to the board on June 16, David Asplaud, the P&H Plans’ chief executive officer, sent IATSE local business agents a letter informing them that the Plans would be easing the requirements that their members need to qualify for health coverage in order “to help participants and dependents affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.” Read that letter here.
Normally, it takes 400 hours of work to qualify for health benefits, but for the benefit period Aug. 1, 2023-Jan. 31, 2024, those who have worked or banked 333-399.9 hours will now be credited with up to 67 additional hours. For the benefit period ending Feb. 29, 2024, those with at least 266 hours earned or banked will be credited with up to 134 additional hours, and for the benefit period ending March 31, 2024, those with at least 199 hours earned or banked will be credited with up to 201 additional hours.
The Health Plan granted a similar easing of qualifications during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when it credited active participants with up to 300 additional hours to help them retain their health benefits.
Last month, Loeb urged the Health Plan – half of whose board members come from labor and half from management – to