What's New

December 9, 1999

NOTICE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TEAMSTERS AND EMPLOYERS PENSION FUND
CONCERNING VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS

Please be advised that the Trustees of the Western Pennsylvania Teamsters and Employers Pension Fund ("Plan"), on December 8, 1999, approved a voluntary employee contribution program under certain circumstances.

Effective January 1, 1999, a Participant whose Employer "involuntarily terminates" its participation in the Plan, may be eligible to make voluntary contributions in order to earn up to one year of future credited service (contributory service). The determination of whether an Employer "involuntarily terminates" its participation in the Plan is determined solely by the Plan Trustees, and can include such events as an Employer ceasing business or shutting down a business location (e.g., terminal, division or center).

To be eligible to make voluntary contributions, a Participant must leave covered employment on or after January 1, 1999 as the result of the "involuntary termination" from the Fund by the Employer, and at the time of departure from covered employment:

1. Worked for an Employer whose employees are eligible for the $1,500 or $2,000 Monthly 25-And-Out Benefit, and has earned at least 24 but less than 25 years of future credited service; or

2. Worked for an Employer whose employees are eligible for the $2,000, $2,500, $3,000, or $3,500 Monthly 30-And-Out Benefit, and has earned at least 29 but less than 30 years of future credited service; or

3. Worked for an Employer whose employees are eligible for the $3,500 Monthly 30-And-Out Benefit upon attaining age 55, and has earned 30 or more years of future credited service, and is 54 years old.

A Participant who meets the eligibility requirements in Paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 above, may make voluntary contributions in order to accumulate up to one additional year of future credited service in order to earn the 25th or 30th year, or attain the age 55 requirement. The Participant may then apply for the appropriate 25-And-Out Benefit or 30-And-Out Benefit after making the necessary voluntary contributions to satisfy the benefit level eligibility over the applicable period of time necessary to collect the contributions.

The Plan Office will notify a participant if the participant's Employer "involuntarily terminates" its participation in the Plan. A participant who meets the eligibility requirements in Paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 above must then advise the Plan Office, in writing and within 60 days of receipt of the notice, of the intention to make voluntary contributions.

The voluntary contributions paid by an eligible participant will be at the weekly contribution rate that the participant's Employer was obligated to contribute in accordance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement or participation agreement in effect on the date of the Employer's "involuntary termination". The Plan Office will provide the eligible participant with billing statements on a monthly basis to pay the voluntary contributions.

If you have any questions concerning the voluntary employee contribution program, please contact the Plan Office at the above address and telephone number.

TRUSTEES OF THE
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
TEAMSTERS AND EMPLOYERS
PENSION FUND