The FA recommends that faculty check their paystubs carefully every two weeks. (photo by Cynthia Eaton)

• Clarification from EVP Dante Morelli about EMHP and contract negotiations: Many members have been asking me about the status of the Employee Medical Health Plan (EMHP) of Suffolk County and its role in the 2019 contract negotiations. EMHP is separated as its own contract between Suffolk County and its ten public labor unions, which includes the FA. The EMHP contract does not expire until 2020.
  
  There has been discussion in the media about the status of EMHP and the possibility of members having to contribute to the plan. There are currently no plans or proposals regarding member contributions to the plan. As the trustee to EMHP, I will continue to attend the monthly meetings along with all committee meetings and to provide updates to FA members. 
  
• Workplace Answers extension to January 25: We have heard concerns from our members about the late notification for the current round of Workplace Answers trainings and the limited time they have to complete the online trainings. The college has decided that they are going to extend the deadline by ten days from January 15 to January 25.
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  Faculty Association and Benefit Fund closings: Both the FA office and the FA Benefit Fund office will be closed on the following dates: December 24 to January 1 as well as January 14 to January 18.
  
  

• Longevity checks: According to payroll longevity checks will be distributed to full-time faculty employed more than ten years by Suffolk County on January 10, 2019.
  
  

• Wintersession 2019 and spring 2019 adjunct/overload checks: According to payroll faculty who teach during the wintersession will receive one check on January 17. Here are the spring 2019 adjunct/overload pay dates:
  
  

Faculty teaching early end classes will receive four checks from February 28 to April 11, 2019; faculty teaching late start classes will receive four checks from April 11 to May 23, 2019.

• Finding your total annual dues for your taxes: For tax filing purposes here’s how to find your total amount of dues paid from January to December 2018: In MySCCC, click the Employees tab, then Pay Stub. Click the Deductions History link at the bottom of the page.
  
  

• Prescription drug claim forms: Prescription drug claims for 2018 must be received by Daniel H. Cook by April 30, 2019. The form is available at the Benefit Fund office, Southampton 224D (Ammerman).
  
  

• EMHP claim forms: Faculty must submit all unpaid 2018 medical claims to Empire Blue Cross by March 31, 2019, to receive reimbursement for covered out-of-pocket expenses. Forms are on the EMHP website: www.emhp.org/members.aspx.