Multi-Employer Pension Plans: Continued Participation or Withdrawal?

Outline

1. Multi-employer pension plans—overview
   1. Employer obligation to contribute to plan (collective bargaining agreement, trust fund agreement)
   2. How employer contribution is determined
   3. Impact of current market forces on plan values
2. New liabilities facing employers
   1. Increased contribution obligations under the PPA
   2. Withdrawal liability
   3. Surcharges and benefit reductions in “critical” plans
   4. Aggressive auditing by multi-employer plans
   5. FASB disclosure requirements
3. Best practices for employers
   1. Determine interplay between PPA and expiration dates of collective bargaining agreements
   2. Develop collective bargaining strategy for addressing PPA risks
   3. Analyze potential withdrawal liability
   4. Determine whether plans are “critical” and develop a rehabilitation plan
   5. Proactive communications with unions and their employees

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key questions:

• What new liabilities face employers participating in multi-employer pension plans?
• How does the PPA interact with the expiration dates of collective bargaining agreements?
• How can employers develop collective bargaining strategies to deal with risks imposed by the PPA?
• How should employers respond to a critical status/surcharge notice from a multi-employer pension plan?

Following the speaker presentations, you'll have an opportunity to get answers to your specific questions during the interactive Q&A.