Question 1

If I join the union today, and one of my immediate family members die tomorrow, how much will be paid out tomorrow?

Accepted Answer

The union’s mortality benefit cover will only pay out upon receipt of the member’s first contribution. This simply means that cover starts when the member’s first deduction has been made and received by the Union, the fund will pay out as per the benefit schedule below.

Question 2

If I join today and claim tomorrow for a family member that died (point 1) and in 7 days another immediate family member died, how much money would be paid out then?

Accepted Answer

The payment of benefits will still be subject to the receipt of your first premium by the union. The claim will be paid out as per the benefit schedule below.
Member                                                               R 22 000
Non-subscription paying pensioner                         R 22 000
Spouse                                                                R 22 000
Fully paid-up benefit                                              R 22 000
9c pensioners                                                       R 2 500
Children 14 years and Older                                   R22 000
Children 6 years to 13 years                                   R11 000
Children (younger than 6 years, including stillborn)    R 5 500

Question 3

If I’m a machine operator will I be forced to join a medical aid? Is it compulsory to join the medical aid?

Accepted Answer

It is not compulsory to join the medical aid. This is the choice of the member.

Question 4

What does the out of work benefit of R250 a week cost me?

Accepted Answer

The out-of-work benefit which is a paid out of the employee benefit fund (EBF) is contributed to by both the member and employer. The total contribution towards the employee benefit fund is R7, 23 per month-the employer contributes R4, 12 while the member contributes R3, 21.

Question 5

What are the terms and conditions under the funeral cover?

Accepted Answer

The terms and conditions of the funeral benefit are as follows:
Payment of funeral benefit
13b3.1
On the death of a participant and /or his /her immediate family member the fund will pay the benefit amount as indicated in rule 13b5 when the following conditions have been fulfilled:
The claim is admitted by the fund; and the documents contained in clause 13b6 are submitted to the fund.
13b3.2
No claim in respect of a deceased participant shall be admitted by the fund unless the fund receives written notice thereof within six (6) months after the date of death and receives the required documents, as referred to in clause 13b6, within six (6) months of the notification of death or three (3) months after the inquest in respect of the deceased participant.
13b3.3
The trustees may, at their sole discretion, consider a claim which is submitted after the six (6) month period of grace. The trustees reserve the right to ask for such evidence as they deem necessary, explaining the delay in submission of the claim.
13b3.4
The fund shall, subject to the provisions contained in clause 13b4, 13b5 and 13b6, pay the benefits in respect of a participant to either, in order of preference.
The member, the spouse or, the participant’s dependant(s) and/or nominated beneficiaries as the case may be.
13b3.5
On the death of an eligible member the surviving spouse shall be entitled to a “fully paid-up benefit” covering his/her life, i.e. No further contributions would be payable.
13b3.6
9c pensioners, a historic closed group of union members, are specifically provided for in terms of the funeral benefit, in order to align the funeral benefits of the fund with the union’s previous funeral scheme provided by an external insurer.
13b4: Exclusions
13b4.1
The fund shall not pay the funeral benefit in respect of a participant if the death was caused, directly or indirectly, by:
Suicide.
Active participation in war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities, warlike operations (whether war be declared or not), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, civil commotion assuming the proportions of or amount to an uprising, military or usurped power.
The use of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, or any radioactive contamination; or
Attacks on or sabotage of facilities (including, but not limited to, nuclear power plants, reprocessing plants, final repository sites and research reactor) and storage depots, which lead to the release of radioactivity or nuclear, biological or chemical agents.
Irrespective of whether any of the aforesaid has been performed with the specific use of information technology.
Any act of civil commotion, riot, strike, labour disturbance or disturbance of the public peace.
Any   act  of  terrorism; i.e. An act, including but not limited to, the use of force or violence and/or the threat thereof, by any person or group(s) of persons, whether acting alone or on behalf of or in connection with any organisation(s) or government(s), committed for political, religious, ideological, or similar purposes including the intention to influence any government and/or to put the public, or any section of the public, in fear that has been determined by the appropriate federal authority to have been an act of terrorism.
13b4.2
Both sub-paragraphs (iii) and (iv) in clause 13b4.1 will remain waived, subject to the fund reserving the right to reinstate these exclusions by giving the union 3 months written notice.
13b5: Benefit Payable
13b5.1
The following benefits will be paid by the fund, based on clause 13b2, and can be adjusted by the trustees at their discretion.
13b6
Required documents and information for benefit payment
The following documents and information but not limited to will be required before any funeral benefit payment can be processed:
13b6.1
 An eligible member’s death:
Completed death claim form.
Original or certified copy of the death certificate.
The claimant’s or funeral provider’s banking details into which the benefit becomes payable.
Original or certified copy of the identity document of the eligible member.
When payment is made to a spouse, dependant or beneficiary, proof of the relationship must be provided. Proof, such as an original or certified copy of marriage certificate for a spouse, or his/her identity document and corresponding birth certificate for a dependant would be acceptable.
13b6.2
A spouse’s death:
Completed death claim form
Original or certified copy of the death certificate
The claimant’s or funeral provider’s banking details into which the benefit becomes payable
Original or certified copy of the identity document of the eligible member and spouse
Original or certified copy of the marriage certificate
13b6.3
A child’s death:
Completed death claim form.
Original or certified copy of the death certificate.
The claimant’s or funeral provider’s banking details into which the benefit becomes payable.
Original or certified copy of the identity document of the eligible member.
Original or certified copy of the birth certificate of the deceased.
In the case of a death of a child older than 21, but younger than 25 years: confirmation from the educational institution that the child was a full-time student as at claim event date.
In the case of a mentally and/or physically disabled child older than 25 years: a medical certificate confirming that the child was mentally and/or physically disabled.
NB!!
If the marriage certificate or a birth certificate is not available, the following alternative documents will be considered:
An affidavit from the priest, community leader, union or head chief, confirming that to their best knowledge the eligible member was married and had dependent children
Documents such as a medical aid card, baptismal certificate, hospital- or clinic-card can also be submitted.
Payment of benefits
The benefits accruing from the fund are conditional on the funds available, being in the opinion of the trustees, sufficient to meet all claims. No particular amount shall be regarded as either due or payable until such time as the particular claim has been passed for payment by the trustees.
NB!! All benefit payments will be made by electronic banking transfer(s).

Question 6

The educational fund: The terms and conditions stated that there are only a certain number of bursaries available per year?

Accepted Answer

This is true; there are number of bursaries which are awarded to deserving students from the SATU bursary Plan. These are awarded at the discretion of the Bursary Committee. The rand value of the approved bursaries is subject to Funds being available with a total number based on the split of those funds. Applications close on the 31st of January each year with a decision made in the first two weeks of February.
Another development which is still to be approved by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is the payment of bursaries from the Employee Benefit Fund. This will work as follows if approved:
13A
BURSARIES
13A.1
In addition to the benefits provided to MEMBERS specified in other clauses, the FUND will make provision for a benefit directed at the advancement of education of the children of MEMBERS.
13A.2
A non-refundable bursary to the value of R 5000.00 per annum shall be available to children of MEMBERS who are aspiring to further their education at a Technikon, University or College (excluding Technical College) on a full time basis.
13A.3
 A maximum of 25 bursaries shall be awarded per annum at the sole discretion of the TRUSTEES of the FUND.
13A.4
Receipt of a bursary in one year will not guarantee the receipt of a bursary in the following year and recipients will have to reapply annually.
13A.5
Where a recipient is successful in his or her application to receive the bursary, payment thereof will be made directly to the applicable institution, be it a University, Technicon or College (excluding a Technical College).
13A.6
In the event that tertiary education is made free of charge this rule provision will no longer be effective.
13A.7
This Rule 13A and the benefits contemplated herein are subject to there being funds available at the time of application.

Question 7

How much will my contribution be if we do not include the 9% for the provident/pension fund?

Accepted Answer

The member’s contribution will be R158-83 per month if the member is paid monthly, if member is paid weekly, then the total contribution will be  R36-66 per week

Question 8

What happens if the employer can not contribute to the provident fund? Does the member then pay the 9% or do they not join a provident fund?

Accepted Answer

1. We have to distinguish between members at inception and new entrants thereafter. The members at inception may initially choose if they can afford it to join the pension or provident fund and pay the 9% themselves or the members at inception may choose not to join the pension and provident fund. SARS however has to approve the Rules of the retirement funds and they require the following extract from the Rules Chapter 3 which states:
 
3.2 “Each employee who becomes an Eligible Employee on or after the date from which his Employer begins participation in the Fund, shall, as a condition of employment be required to elect membership of the Fund or membership of the Printing Industry Pension Fund for SATU Members.”
All new members therefore have to automatically as a condition of employment join the Fund.

Question 9

If a warning for not following company policies and procedures is issued, how will the Union assist staff members in regards to disciplinary procedures?

Accepted Answer

At new companies or companies where there is no trade union representative (Shop Steward) or he/she is untrained, A union representative (official) will be allocated to the member especially if there is no co-worker willing or able to assist at the disciplinary hearing.
 
Should the process move forward and upon its conclusion the member is unhappy with the outcome and would like to lodge an appeal or refer the matter to a dispute resolution body (CCMA or Statutory Council) the Union official assigned will be responsible for seeing through either the lodged appeal or referral on behalf of the member.

Contact Us

Get a hold of us at one of our many branches, send us an email or find us on social media.

FAQs below.

Head office | Pretoria

Johannesburg

Durban

Port Elizabeth

Cape Town

FAQ

If I join the union today, and one of my immediate family members die tomorrow, how much will be paid out tomorrow?

If I join today and claim tomorrow for a family member that died (point 1) and in 7 days another immediate family member died, how much money would be paid out then?

If I’m a machine operator will I be forced to join a medical aid? Is it compulsory to join the medical aid?

What does the out of work benefit of R250 a week cost me?

What are the terms and conditions under the funeral cover?

The educational fund: The terms and conditions stated that there are only a certain number of bursaries available per year?

How much will my contribution be if we do not include the 9% for the provident/pension fund?

What happens if the employer can not contribute to the provident fund? Does the member then pay the 9% or do they not join a provident fund?

If a warning for not following company policies and procedures is issued, how will the Union assist staff members in regards to disciplinary procedures?

Question Not Listed?

Contact Us

Get a hold of us at one of our many branches, send us an email or find us on social media. FAQs below.

Head office | Pretoria

Johannesburg

Durban

Port Elizabeth

Cape Town

FAQ

If I join the union today, and one of my immediate family members die tomorrow, how much will be paid out tomorrow?

If I join today and claim tomorrow for a family member that died (point 1) and in 7 days another immediate family member died, how much money would be paid out then?

If I’m a machine operator will I be forced to join a medical aid? Is it compulsory to join the medical aid?

What does the out of work benefit of R250 a week cost me?

What are the terms and conditions under the funeral cover?

The educational fund: The terms and conditions stated that there are only a certain number of bursaries available per year?

How much will my contribution be if we do not include the 9% for the provident/pension fund?

What happens if the employer can not contribute to the provident fund? Does the member then pay the 9% or do they not join a provident fund?

If a warning for not following company policies and procedures is issued, how will the Union assist staff members in regards to disciplinary procedures?

Question Not Listed?

Get a hold of us at one of our many branches, send us an email or find us on social media.

FAQs below.