HEB Manitoba Benefits During Labour Disruptions

During a strike, work stoppage or labour dispute that lasts longer than 14 days, coverage for most HEB Manitoba Plans will cease for all striking HEB Manitoba Plan members for the duration of the labour dispute, unless their union agrees to cover both the employee and employer portions of the premium costs.

During a Work Stoppage

• Employees on strike are not considered to be on leave of absence.
• Striking employees will not be able to prepay to maintain their benefit coverage on an individual basis.
• HEB Manitoba must be notified of any developments, particularly regarding a rotating strike or provision of Essential Services.
• For members on a D&R claim:
  • There will be no change to their D&R claim.
  • If they are participating in a gradual return to work (GRTW), their GRTW will be put on hold.
  • Employees who may be affected by the labour disruption, and are participating in a GRTW, will be contacted by HEB Manitoba.

If Premiums are Paid During a Work Stoppage

If a union pays the benefit premiums for a group of striking employees:

• HEB Manitoba will arrange payment of premiums for striking members directly with their unions or employers as directed.
• Benefit coverage will continue under the Plan(s) that benefit premiums are paid for.
• Coverage must be maintained and premiums paid for the entire duration of the work stoppage (to a maximum of 12 months).

Before the work stoppage:

• The union president or another authorized signing authority must advise HEB Manitoba of the work stoppage in writing, indicating:
  • The intended strike date
  • Which Plans' benefit premiums the union will pay on behalf of employees.

Employees on a leave of absence as of the strike date who have not maintained coverage may not be eligible for benefit coverage during the strike.

If Premiums are Not Paid During a Work Stoppage

If the union does not pay benefit premiums, HEB Manitoba Plan coverage will stop as follows. Employees in the affected union will not be permitted to pay premiums individually.

D&R Plan

Coverage will terminate on the first day of the work stoppage.

After the strike ends and the employee return to work, they will have a new Effective Date of Coverage. Consequently, if the employee ceases work due to an illness or injury within one year of the new Effective Date of Coverage, the Pre-existing Condition Limitation will apply and the employee may not be eligible for D&R Benefits.

Life Insurance Plan

Coverage will terminate on the earlier of the date the work stoppage begins or the last day premiums are paid.

Healthcare and Dental Plans

Coverage will stop at the end of the month following the last premium deduction.

After the strike ends and the employee returns to work, their Healthcare and Dental Plan coverage will be reinstated on the first of the month following their return to work.

Healthcare Spending Account

If the employee’s Healthcare Plan coverage has lapsed over the period in which the employee would have qualified for the annual Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) benefit (that is, January 1 of each year), the employee will not be eligible for the HSA benefit amount for the balance of that calendar year.

For example, if Healthcare Plan benefits are not maintained on January 1, 2025, the employee will not be eligible for an HSA in 2025.

When an employee’s Healthcare Plan coverage terminates, their HSA benefit will terminate at the same time. The employee has 90 days from the date their Healthcare Plan coverage terminates to submit HSA claims for any eligible expenses incurred prior to that date. Any of their HSA benefit amount remaining after the 90 days will be forfeited.

Employee Assistance Program

The HEB Manitoba Employee Assistance Program is an Employer paid benefit and the continuation of coverage and premium payment is at the discretion of the Participating Employer.

Pension Plan

Striking employees will not be able to pay Pension Plan contributions on an individual basis during a work stoppage. However, if the employee is working and being paid pensionable earnings during the strike (for example, as an essential services worker), pension contributions must be deducted.

If a strike period does not exceed 54 weeks in duration, employees can purchase missed pensionable service as a Past Service Purchase when they return to active employment and at any time up to 60 days before termination of their employment or their retirement date.