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Education Benefits
Memorandum of Understanding
Tuition Assistance Plan
During current negotiations, General Motors and
U A W reaffirmed the necessity of providing active and laid-off workers
opportunities for education and training. These efforts will enable them
to either re-enter the work force or enhance their development.
Accordingly, the parties agree to continue the Tuition Assistance Plan for
all qualifying workers who wish to pursue further education and training.
The plan is designed to help workers:
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Who are laid off, improve their chances for
re-employment
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Or who are active, enhance their
opportunities advancement.
Under this Plan, qualified workers are able to
receive assistance in the form of up-front payment to licensed or accredited
schools such as colleges, universities, proprietary schools or vocational
institutions. The Plan permits workers to select virtually any type of
vocational training or education, for their situations and goals, subject to
approval by the U A W - G M Center for Human Resources.
Tuition Assistance Plan for Laid Off Workers
Eligibility:
The participant must be a U A W represented
General Motor - U S worker on indefinite layoff, who has recall or rehire rights
under the terms of the current G M - U A W National Agreement, and who had at least
one year seniority as of the last day worked prior to layoff.
Courses:
Suitable courses are those required for
adult basic education, high school completion or high school equivalency
certification, university, college, business, trade or vocational school courses
or adult education classes.
Schools:
Acceptable schools are those approved by the
U A W - G M Center for Human Resources including, but not limited to those generally
recognized by accrediting agencies, or under governmental education agencies.
Type of Assistance:
The Plan will provide for tuition and compulsory
fees to be paid directly to the schools providing the course in which the
applicants are enrolled. There shall be no duplication of tuition fees
already covered by other state of federal education assistance plans or
programs. Maximum eligibility under this Plan is $8,000. of tuition
assistance while on indefinite layoff. Eligibility is established by
seniority as of last day worked prior to layoff as follows:
Seniority as of Date of Layoff
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1 to 3
years $6,000.
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3 to 4
years $7,000.
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4 or more years $8,000.
The above specified amounts shall constitute an
account upon which the worker may draw so long as the individual retains recall
or rehire rights while on indefinite layoff. Certain changes in employment
status will affect eligibility. If recall or rehire rights are lost under
the terms of the G M - U A W National Agreement, of full-time employment is accepted
that would pay wages comparable to those on the former job at General Motors, or
if similar training programs are provided by a new employer, eligibility will
cease. Continued eligibility will depend upon satisfactory completion of
courses in which the employee has enrolled and compliance with other provisions
of the Plan. In no event shall total assistance to an employee exceed
$8,000. in any four calendar year period.
Tuition Assistance Plan for Active Workers
Eligibility:
The participant must be a U A W represented General
Motors - U S worker on the active employment rolls or on temporary layoff with
seniority under the terms of the current G. M. - U. A. W. National Agreement. Also
included are union officials on leave under the provisions of Paragraph (109)
who are functioning in positions at General Motors locations or special assigned
G M - U A W employees on leave under the provision of Paragraph (109a) who are
assigned at U A W - G M facilities. Additionally, the spouse of dependent children of
a deceased, active employee will be entitled to utilize the remaining balance of
the employee's current year's Tuition Assistance eligibility excluding any
advance payment for college or educational pursuits during a period equal to the
length of the present Agreement following the date of the employee's death.
Types of Assistance:
The Plan will provide for tuition and/or
compulsory fees to be paid directly to the schools providing the course in which
the applicants are enrolled. There shall be no duplication of tuition or
fees already covered by state or federal education assistance plans or programs. The
following courses shall entitle individuals to those benefit levels specified
below:
Employees enrolled in college degree programs
through accredited institutions, who exhaust their current year tuition
eligibility, may utilize up to $1,000. of the followings year's eligibility to
cover the present or next semester eligible expenses. This advance payment
is provided only in conjunction with courses offered at regionally accredited
colleges or universities on a semester or quarterly basis and is not available
for job related or personal enhancement classes. Advance payment of up to
$21,000. will occur automatically when the employee's request for tuition
assistance exceeds the currents year eligibility.
Advanced payment is not available in the last
calendar year of the Agreement, and does not expand total tuition assistance
eligibility over the life of the present Agreement
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$2,100 per year for other job related courses
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$1.450 per year for courses not related to
the employees current job assignment through acceptable schools including
those accredited by recognized accreditation agencies, those approved by
Government Education or Training Programs, or certain specified
others. The
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U A W - G M Center for Human Resources will publish a listing
of approved courses of study.
In no event shall the total assistance to an
employee exceed $5,200 in a twelve-month period. All courses are subject
to approval by the U A W - G M Center for Human Resources.
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