A Primer on GM UAW Legal Services
Introduced early in 2007, the GM-UAW Legal Services have been a significant enhancement to the UAW GM Hourly-Rate Employees Coverage. It was a joint decision by General Motors and the United Auto Workers to revamp the legal services offered to eligible hourly employees and retirees. GM UAW Legal Services are available to approximately 140 , 000 active UAW represented employees and 20,000 UAW represented retirees. These services include traditional "legal aid" services as well as financial and educational programs to help eligible members and their families. The goal of GM UAW Legal Services is to provide eligible members with high quality legal representation and access to other benefits and programs.
GM UAW Legal Services’ Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for GM UAW Legal Services varies based on the nature of the legal issues at hand as well as the applicant’s relationship to UAW or GM. For instance, O&A benefits are limited to certain members of the employees’ household, including those who may not live in the household but are still considered a member of the employee’s family.
For civil matters, the documents that support your claim can determine whether you will be approved for O&A benefits or not and documents from your creditor are usually required for the arbitration process to begin.
Further, there are restrictions on the types of legal matters that legal services may be provided for. Some of these matters are divorce, bankruptcy, criminal matters, and personal injury matters. The exact parameters of services offered under the Legal Services Program and eligibility requirements are available on the UAW website.
Legal Matters Eligible for GM UAW Legal Services
The types of legal issues GM UAW Legal Services can assist you with are as varied as the issues facing the employees it was designed to protect. As a legal services program, GM UAW Legal Services covers a breadth of family law issues such as child custody, child support, alimony, and visitation rights for separation and divorce. It can also help with adoption. People may also seek help with estate planning issues like creating a will, establishing a trust, or designating a power of attorney. Consumers can identify representation for issues they deal with as a consumer with bills or negotiating with creditors. This is a key feature of GM UAW Legal Services, which is designed to prevent and resolve any legal conflicts for its union members.
Other types of legal issues that GM UAW Legal Services can assist with include: bankruptcy, insurance claims, domestic relations, civil injury, personal injury, wrongful termination, wills, probate, and property issues or claims. GM UAW Legal Services cannot assist with federal or state government matters (other than discharge from military service), personal legal matters (including criminal law), or matters against the employer or Union.
Accessing GM UAW Legal Services
Anyone needing legal help should contact that individual law office directly. Law offices have been assigned according to the last name of the member. Please remember to notify GM-UAW Legal Services if you change your address, telephone number or marital status so that we can update your record. Do not call the home office regarding case specific issues, as those issues must be handled by the servicing law office. Members are assigned to a law office as follows:
A-G Detroit
H-M Detroit
N-S Royal Oak
T-Z Detroit
Legal questions and matters involving General Motors must be referred to the Detroit office. The numbers above are for problems only and not to be used for any request for information. Refer only those matters to the appropriate servicing law office.
The Advantages of GM UAW Legal Services
Using GM UAW Legal Services offers various benefits for eligible members. The cost savings associated with having legal representation and legal advice are a major attraction to the program. Eligible members will benefit from not having to pay hourly lawyers’ fees. All work performed by systematic professionals is billed at a pre-approved, reduced flat rate. The reduced fees are lower than paying an hourly rate, thus extreme costs are minimized for members who need representation for straightforward legal matters. In addition to these savings , the convenience associated with receiving legal aid through this program is drawing in more UAW-GM members. Members have the convenience of being able to receive assistance through the GM UAW Legal Services Program. GM UAW members are given special priority when seeking legal aid through the program. Another benefit to utilizing GM UAW Legal Services includes the professional expertise of the program representatives. The legal team is equipped with years of experience, providing consistent and reliable representation. They stay current on legal issues and changes, so they can handle almost any issue or case widely. The GM UAW Legal Services Program saves members money and provides reliable and convenient access to legal services.
GM UAW Legal Services FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about GM UAW Legal Services
What is the role of GM UAW Legal Services in the GM-UAW Master Bargaining Agreement?
On May 1, 1998, the GM-UAW Master Bargaining Agreement was amended to provide for legal services known as GM UAW Legal Services. Under Article 43 of the UAW International Constitution, the Union and the Corporation agreed to establish an independent organization, GM UAW Legal Services, Independent Fund (the Fund), to provide legal services and certain representation to eligible represented UAW General Motors Corporation members and/or their family members and retirees.
What legal services are provided to eligible clients under GM UAW Legal Services?
- Uncontested matters in family and domestic relations.
- Estate planning, including wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney.
- Uncontested immobile and motor vehicle matters in estates or conservatorships.
- Uncontested general civil matters, such as landlord/tenant.
- Contested Unemployment Compensation Hearings.
- Social Security Applications.
- Administrative Appeals.
- Uncontested Labor Arbitrations.
If I have more than one issue under a category (for example I have both a Social Security and Unemployment compensation matter), do I get representation for each matter?
Limited representation for each matter is available as long as they are within the scope of the legal services covered under GM UAW Legal Services.
Who provides legal services through GM UAW Legal Services?
To be a GM UAW Legal Services attorney, you must be a member of the UAW specifically designated by the applicable Local Union. All GM UAW Legal Services attorneys are independent contractors and not employees of the International Union or General Motors Corporation. All attorneys participating in GM UAW Legal Services are qualified to render the legal services described.
What are the eligibility requirements to receive legal services through GM UAW Legal Services?
There are two methods for determining eligibility under the terms of the agreement.
1. Active, represented employees of General Motors Corporation who are members of a Local Union within the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), LM-1 as amended.
2. Retired employees of General Motors Corporation who were employees during any portion of the period from May 1, 1998, to the present under the terms of the Master Bargaining Agreement.
I’m a retiree of General Motors Corporation, does that mean I can receive representation for any matter I wish regardless of how it relates to my time with the company?
No, legal services provided through GM UAW Legal Services must be for matters which sufficiently relate to your employment at General Motors. For example, an active employee may not receive representation for a criminal matter, but an employee facing employment related charges may be eligible for representation. If that same employee found himself with concerns related to his employment, he may be eligible for representation.
If you are unsure if your matter is related, simply call the office and ask!
Conclusion and Further Reading
In summary, GM UAW Legal Services is an invaluable resource for eligible retirees and current GM UAW employees. The services provided can make a significant difference in dealing with legal issues that arise during this important time of life. From estate planning to real estate transactions, having access to a team of experienced attorneys can be a major asset. If you believe you might be eligible for these services, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the eligibility requirements and application process. For many retirees and employees, making an effort to utilize GM UAW Legal Services will pay off in the end. The information provided here represents the most up-to-date resources available at the time of this writing. If you would like to learn more about GM UAW Legal Services and its offerings , more information is readily available online. For retirees and current employees of GM UAW, the Website provides a wealth of information, as do the UAW Local unions. Given the nature of legal services, it can be difficult to find accurate and timely updates. What we have here represents the most current information published by GM UAW Legal Services, for your benefit. If you have additional questions, you may contact the following for further assistance: Please note that these contacts and information are subject to change over time, so please attempt to verify that they are still accurate before reliance.