Newspapers / Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.) / April 1, 1956, edition 1 / Page 3
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APRIL, 1956 Tir«$tone !?5gWi PAGE 3 Pension Plan Helps To Build Retirement Security Northen L. Harris of 306 South Weldon street, is basking in the sunshine and fishing in Florida waters during the first several days of April. A major reason why this retired employee from the slasher room of Cotton Weaving can enjoy such leisure time is that he has the benefits of the Company Pension Plan, which contributes greatly to ward an employee’s financial security in retirement. Now and then just about every working person thinks of retire ment—places to go and things to do when he no longer holds a full-time job. Through the Com pany Pension Plan, substantial retirement benefits are provided. BUT THERE IS something else in addition to that monthly check received by retirees. These retired employees will have limited benefits of the Firestone Group Insurance Program. All this coverage, which will cost them nothing, means added se curity and peace of mind to em ployees and their dependents when they retire. To give you an idea how the hourly rated pension plan ac tually works, wa present the case of Mr. Harris, one of the many retired workers from the Gastonia plant. Of course, specific figures and circumstances will vary depend ing upon individuals, but the procedure is very much the same for all retired hourly rated employees. Mr. Harris retired last Novem ber 18, after 20 years of service with the Company here. Now each month when he looks into his mail box he finds a pension check and Social Security check. He also knows that he has Fire stone Group Insurance coverage, and he feels that it’s a pretty good life he’s leading now. UNDER THE present plan, an employee with 15 years of serv ice receives a monthly retire ment income, including Social Security, of approximately $115.- 50 when he retires; with 20 years of service, he will receive about $124.50; with 25 years of service his retirement income will be about $133.50; and with 30 or more years of service retirement income will be in the neighbor hood of $142.50. Each hourly rated employee eligible for a higher-than-mini- mum pension will receive upon retirement at age 65 an annual pension of one per cent of his total earnings less one-half of his primary Social Security benefit. Earnings will be based upon the average of the 1945- 1954 period until January 1, 1955, and upon actual earnings thereafter. HOURLY RATED employees retired by the Company on or after May 1, 1950, and providing they are eligible for pension, or if they are 65 years of age and eligible for a severance award, receive limited hospital, surgical and hospital medical coverage for themselves and for their de pendents at no cost to them selves. Under this plan limited Sur gical Expense benefits are pro vided for retired employees and their dependents. This means that the fee the doctor charges for an operation will be paid up to the amount allowed in the Schedule of Maximum Surgical Benefits, with a maximum of $200. The total amount payable per individual for all hospital con finements and operations occur ring after an individual’s retire ment will be limited to $310 for room and board, $100 for other services, including personal X- ray benefits and $200 surgical benefits. ONLY THOSE eligible de pendents on record with the Company when an employee re tires will be covered. “It’s a good feeling of security to know that the Company maintains my life insurance coverage,” comments Mr. Harris. “It’s also good to have those hos pital benefits continued, in case either Mrs. Harris or I need them,” he adds. Mrs. Harris has also been employed at Firestone for more than 20 years, and of course, would, upon retirement, receive her own benefits from her long years of Company serv ice. Mr. Harris was not one of those persons who dreamed of rocking chairs in retirement. Last November when he put in his last day of work in the slash er room he had already worked out a long - range catalog of hunting and fishing trips. And thrown in with that, there were things to do around the house, to keep things shipshape while Mrs. Harris continues to hold down her duties on first shift Carding. i PLANNING FLORIDA TRIP—At his home ai 306 South Wei- don street, N. L. Harris studied a road map in preparation for a fishing trip to Florida. He is visiting a brother in Orlando. WITH HIS PENSION, Social Security and group insurance benefits, N. L. Harris has retired with a measure of financial se curity. For his pension he con tributed nothing, for Social Se curity benefits he and Firestone paid, equal shares. And now limited group insurance bene fits are his at no extra cost. Understandably, it all adds up to financial security and peace of mind for the Harrises and for scores of others who have re tired from the Firestone Gas tonia plant. Plant Makes News In Textile Age’ Spring Is Time To Eliminate Fire Hazards An article on the study of progress in nylon tire cord gains was a major feature in a recent issue of Textile Age, published at Greenwich, Conn. The article traced the history of pneumatic tire fabric, stressing the recent phenomenal acceptance of nylon as an industrial textile and its use in the manufacture of tires. Safety and economy were listed as prime features of tires of ^lylon cord. Other advantages of nylon fabric in tires, according to the article, are; strength, bruise and impact resistance, heat re sistance, high strength in presence of moisture, uniform quality, long-wear. The magazine article featured a picture taken in the Twisting I^epartment. It showed Charles Tanner checking a ply twisting operation, an early step in the preparation of tire fabric for the §^ni-dipping and heat-tensioning unit here. Installed A Leader of White Shrine ★ ★ ★ Mrs. Lou B. Mechem, wife of ^Verett J. Mechem, plant comp troller, was installed as Worthy Priestess of Shrine No. 13. larder of White Shrine of Jerusa- ai an open meeting the ^^sning of March 10 in Masonic ®*nple. Other officers installed ^ere Watchman of the Shep- ^®rds. Worthy Chaplain. Worthy ^^ide. Worthy Shepherdess, As- ^*^ciate Watchman of the Shep- and Noble Prophetess. ^*nong those assisting the in- ^^lling officer was Mrs, Roxie ®Wton, Firestone third shift ★ ★ ★ Clean-Up, Fix-Up, Paint-Up Week is on the calendar for April 15 through 21 in Gastonia. Firestone employees will, as usual; participate in the observance which has been arranged by the civic affairs committee of the Chamber of Commerce. Since one purpose of clean-up in the spring is to reduce fire hazards around the home, the Na tional Fire Protection Association has some time ly suggestions. THE NFPA is an international, non-profit tech nical and educational clearing house on fire safe ty. In one of its bulletins prepared to help home owners at clean-up time, it makes the reminder that most fires start in trash piles, rubbish, or stored odds and ends that collect in and around the house. Closets, attics, and cellars are the main starting places of home fires, and plain ordinary good housekeeping is one of the best ways to prevent both the start of fire and its spread. “Real clean-up for fire safety boils down to a choice only you can make,” cautions the NFPA. “Either get rid of that extra stuff around the house that burns so easily—or keep on taking the long chance of living amid such ideal fuel for fire.” Other suggestions include: With the elimination of combustibles in mind, look over the things you’ve got in your attics, closets and basements. These items will burn fast: old linen and clothing, mattresses and wooden furniture, curtains, drap eries, lampshades, magazines, papers, linoleum and rags—particularly dirty rags that have been used for painting or polishing. This is the rubbish —the fuel—that too often means the difference between a small, controllable fire and a fire-gut- ted home. WHEN YOU have attended to the inside of your house, go after that rubbish in your back yard, in alleys and in vacant lots near your home. And dispose of trash regularly and often— don’t let it pile up. If you must burn your own trash outdoors, the NFPA offers these pointers: First, get a fire permit from your fire depart ment or fire warden. Then pick a spot well away from house and garage and clear a strip of earth around the pile to be burned. The same advice applies to wire and sheet metal trash burners. Don’t try to burn too much at one time. Have a few pails of water ready and a rake or wet broom at hand. When you’re done, soak embers with water; stir to be sure all embers are wet. A gust of wind can fan up embers that are seemingly dead. Make sure that all fires are thoroughly out before you leave. Now that this is the season when you can give that heating system a needed rest, it is a good time for householders to make a thorough clean ing of that equipment. To do it now will save a lot of bother next fall, and it will make your premises cleaner for the summer months ahead— especially if your heating system is operated by coal. In connection with the Clean-up, Fix-up, Paint- up Week in April, why not let the following quiz be your guide, so far as fire protection is con cerned? If you truthfully answer “Yes” to all of these questions prepared by the NFPA, your house will be better prepared against devastating fire this spring and summer. 1. Do you regularly dispose of trash and rub bish? 2. Do you keep the grounds around your house free of dead grass, weeds, trash, and dried brush? 3. Are your dust mops safely cared for and oily rags kept in safe metal containers? 4. Do you cooperate with charity drives for paper and trash: salvage your cast-off clothing, furniture, etc., or contribute it to rummage sales? 5. Do you have chimney and heating system cleaned at least once a year? 6. Do you invite your fire department to in spect your home and instruct you on fire-safe housekeeping?
Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.)
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April 1, 1956, edition 1
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