Formation of AGRE

The Alliance of Grandfathered Retirees and Employees (AGRE) has been established to provide a forum for grandfathered (GF) retirees and employees to come together to work toward equitable and secure retirement benefits. GF retirees and employees are a DOE designated group of workers who have met certain definition requirements, and most began their employment with Bechtel Jacobs Company LLC (BJC) on April 1, 1998, the date BJC began managing the M&I Contract for the Department of Energy.

The contract requirement of BJC to provide "Substantially Equivalent Pay and Benefits" to those who were termed "Grandfathered" was expected to extend through employment and into retirement. Alas, when BJC announced their open enrollment period from November 12-30, 2007 (which retirees did not receive until November 16), it included a jump in insurance costs for GF pre-65 retirees. The medical and dental insurance premiums were to double effective January 1, 2008, severely impacting about 547 pre-65 retirees. Fortunately for these retirees, DOE intervened and the jump in insurance costs for BJC retirees was put on hold.

Although no announcement has been made to GF retirees, BJC is now planning to move the pension fund management to Mercer Consulting on January 2, 2008. Mercer is one of the most expensve consulting firms in the United States. Pension plan participants and their beneficiaries are concerned that fees paid to Mercer will decrease the amount of the Pension Plan funds.

AGRE all-hands meetings have been held at the USW Union Hall located on Raleigh Road in Oak Ridge, TN. As a result of the first meeting on December 6, 2007, an AGRE Actions Committee was formed to begin formally identifying the concerns and issues to be addressed. At the December 13, 2007 meeting, the possible relationship between CORRE and AGRE was discussed in depth. As a result, a team will be meeting with representatives from CORRE to explore the affiliation concept and will report back to the membership of AGRE at the January meeting.

Suggestions and support are welcomed! Comments may be made directly to this blog site, or you may submit them to the AGRE e-mail adddress: gfemployee@yahoo.com

Future AGRE meetings will be held on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the USW Union Hall in Oak Ridge, TN. All interested GF retirees and employees are encouraged to attend and support the activities of AGRE. Please mark your calendar -- the next meeting will be Thursday, January 17, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. at the USW Union Hall.