The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) held its 40th Annual Spring Conference June 8 - 9, 2011 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. On June 8th, 74 golfers enjoyed an outing on the Highlands Course.  The Membership Meeting gave the attendees updates regarding business and labor issues. 

The seminar held on Thursday, June 9th, was presented by Mr. Thomas Vasiljevich of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.  The presentation was called, "Developments in Multi-Employer Benefit Plans." 

Highlights of the "Developments in Multi-Employer Benefit Plans" presentation and question and answer session included the following:        

The Presentation was divided into several areas:

1.     Pension Protection Act (PPA) Funding Issues

       - Benchmarks - funding color zones/status, funding requirements,

         funding improvement plans, collective bargaining aspects;

2.     Plan Disclosure Issues

        - Increased access to plan information:  upon written request,

          the fund is required to provide the following information, within 30 days,

          to any participant, beneficiary, union or company, employer:          

          actuarial reports and financial reports;

3.     A Legal Roadmap to Withdrawal Liability

        - Discussed liabilities to a company if leaving a plan;

4.     Impact on a business

       - How a sale of a business, etc. comes into play; estimates of

         withdrawal liability; instances where the liability is applicable and

         exceptions to the rule.

5.     FASB Disclosure Issues

        - FASB proposal now reduced - less impact on business;

          however, employer is still liable to report several aspects

          of employer's participation within a particular benefit plan;

          overall proposal is being finalized.

6.     Survey of Plans

        - Mr. Vasiljevich briefly discussed EIT Plan 2, Plan 4 and Plan 6 - their overall

          status.

7.     Question and Answer Session concerned the scenario of a company

going out of business and the time-frame with no withdrawal

liability issues unless the firm resumes work as a non-union company,

among other issues.  Mr. Vasiljevich made available to the Association

a number of copies of his presentation which are available upon request.

The Association will be returning to the Grand Geneva for the 2012 Spring Conference.  We hope to see you there.  

Pictured above is Mr. Thomas Vasiljevich, Ogletree, Deakins as he

began the "Developments in Multi-Employer Benefits Plans" Presentation.

Pictured from left to right are Golf Awardees: 

Paul Brown, Kelso-Burnett Co., James Maertzig, MidCo, Inc.,

Jay Eminger, Jr., Helm Electrical Services, Inc., and

Gary Misicka, Lyons Electric Company, Inc.

The ECA Student Committee has worked with the Illinois Institute of Technology's Interprofessional Program (IIT IPRO) over the past few years.  A CD is now available for ECA members only that has all three IPRO's:  1) Green Technology; 2) BIM Technology and 3) Business Development.  Please contact the ECA for a copy.  The ECA Student Committee also looks forward to the Fall IPRO regarding "Smart Grid Technology."

Special Presentation