SECTION XIII. RECIPROCITY

If you work outside the geographic area of IBEW Local 6 under a collective bargaining agreement requiring contributions to a different IBEW defined benefit or defined contribution plan, the contributions you earn typically are credited to that plan. Likewise, if you are a traveler working temporarily within the jurisdiction of this Plan, the contributions you earn will be credited to this Plan instead of to your home plan, unless you exercise your right to have contributions reciprocated to your home plan pursuant to the Electrical Industry Reciprocity Agreement, described below.

Dividing your service credit or contributions between two plans can reduce your retirement income. For example, if you work outside your normal area for only a few years, you may not work enough hours to vest under the plan in that area and may lose the benefits you earned during those years. Furthermore, by consolidating all of your defined contribution money to single account, you reduce the amount of expenses that would otherwise apply. To avoid such problems, the Plan has become a party to the Electrical Industry Pension Reciprocal Agreement.

The key provisions of the Electrical Industry Pension Reciprocal Agreement are summarized below. A copy of the agreement is available upon written request of the Plan Office. The National Reciprocity Office is responsible for and handles any appeals, disputes or questions relating to the Electrical Industry Reciprocal Agreement.

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