The following is a brief summary of the benefit provisions of the Benevolent Trust Fund (BTF). The rules governing the plan are set forth in the BTF plan document. For questions about the BTF or for additional information, please contact Ayeshah Wright, plan administrator, at GCC/IBT headquarters, 1900 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Telephone: (202) 462- 1400.

The Benevolent Trust Fund (BTF) provides death benefits to beneficiaries of participating members of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC/IBT).

Funding for the plan is provided through special per capita taxes and investment earnings. Fund assets are segregated from union assets and held in a trust fund maintained for the exclusive purpose of providing death benefits to beneficiaries of deceased eligible members and for defraying reasonable administrative expenses of the plan. The trust fund is registered with the Internal Revenue Service and is qualified as a tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

The fund is administered by a board of trustees. BTF board members are the members of the General Board of the GCC/IBT. The day-to-day operations of the plan are overseen by a plan administrator who is appointed by the board of trustees. The plan administrator reports to the Executive Committee of the board of trustees between trustees' meetings.

Plan participation

All lithographic, photoengraver, photo industrial and bookbinding members of the GCC/IBT participate in the plan. All members of newly established local unions also participate in the plan. All full members of the GCC/IBT in good standing are eligible to participate, regardless of age.

Special per capita tax

All new participants of the Benevolent Trust Fund contribute a one-time inaugural fee of $8.00. Thereafter, the special per capita tax for new participants and the tax for all non-exempt existing participants is $1.00 per month. Certain participants are exempt from the special per capita tax. For example, exemptions include participants who are serving in the armed forces of the United States or Canada and participants who have honorary life membership.

Death benefits

The amount of the death benefit payable on behalf of a deceased participant depends on the status of the participant at the time of death. Specifically these factors include whether the participant was active or retired, whether the participant was exempt from the special per capita tax, years or months of continuous participation in the plan, and date of death. Effective for deaths of active members occurring on or after July 1, 2000, benefits range from $800 for very new members (up to seven months of membership) to $2,500 for those with at least three years of membership. Benefits are also payable on behalf of eligible retirees.