The Trustees of the IBEW Pacific Coast Pension Fund have decided to terminate participation in the Electrical Industry Pension Reciprocal Agreement.  This becomes effective for contributions paid on behalf of a participant on and after January 1, 2016.  As a result of this decision, the following changes will take effect for employment performed on and after the effective date:

1. No contributions for work performed in the jurisdiction of the IBEW Pacific Coast Pension Fund will be transferred to another electrical industry plan; and

2. No contributions for work performed in another electrical industry plan’s  jurisdiction will be transferred to the IBEW Pacific Coast Pension Fund.

IBEW members working out of Local Unions 46 and 76 in Washington State are most likely to be those effected by this change.  However, there are other agreements along the Pacific Coast through Oregon and California that also participate in this plan. 

It is strongly suggested that Local Unions inform their members working in these areas, or planning on traveling to these areas, that any pension contributions made on their behalf will not be reciprocated to their Home Fund.  It is quite likely they will lose the benefit of any defined benefit contributions unless they manage to stay employed until vested in this plan which remains in critical status.