The GCC Employer Retirement Fund (ERF) was established in October 1955 in order to provide retirement and disability benefits for eligible members who retire from employment or become disabled. Survivor benefits are also available to beneficiaries of deceased participants. The GCC Employer Retirement Fund is a multi-employer, defined benefit, tax exempt, Taft-Hartley employee benefit plan.

Participation in the plan is based on contributions made on a participant's behalf, by his participating employer, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement with his local union. There is a minimum contribution rate of $1.00 per shift, up to a maximum of $15.00 per shift (or the hourly or fixed equivalents thereof). Individual benefits accrued under the Plan are based on a combination of Past Service Credits and Current Service Credits.

Past Service Credit: One year of Past Service Credit is granted for each year in the industry prior to participation, up to a maximum 20 (twenty) years. A participant is eligible for Past Service Credit if he or she is a member of the bargaining unit when that unit comes into the plan.

Current Service Credit: One Current Service Credit is accrued for each $410.00 in contributions in a Plan Year. Total Current Service Credits, and the resultant benefits, are a function of 1) the rate of contribution and 2) the time period over which contributions are made. There is no limit to the amount of Current Service Credit which may be earned.

Normal retirement under the plan is age 65. A participant may retire as early as age 55 with reduced benefits for each year before age 65 or at age 62 or older with full benefits if he or she has 30 years or more vesting credits. Eligible participants may select from the following forms of benefit: Joint & Survivor Annuity and Single Life Annuity. All retirement benefits are guaranteed to be paid for a minimum of five years to the retiree and/or beneficiary. Disability benefits are based on the maximum, age 65 benefit.

The fund has entered into reciprocity agreements with both the GCC Supplemental Retirement and Disability Fund and the Graphic Arts Joint Pension Trust, under which vesting credits earned under any of the funds are recognized for vesting purposes .

For complete information or a copy of the Plan Booklet, please contact the administrative office at: 13191 Crossroads Parkway North, Suite 205, City of Industry, CA 91746-3434; telephone (562) 463-5010.