ARTICLE XVII - Health Benefit Plan
Par. 1. The Health Benefit Plan covering life insurance, sickness
and accident benefits, and hospitalization insurance, or any
changes thereto that are in accordance with the National Elevator
Industry Health Benefit Plan and Declaration of Trust, shall
be a part of this Agreement and adopted by all parties signatory
thereto.
Par. 2. The Health Benefit Plan shall be financed by mutual
contribution, of Employers and Elevator Constructor Mechanics,
Helpers and Apprentices as provided herein. The Employer agrees
to continue to pay and contribute four dollars and seventy seven
and one half cents($4.775)for each hour of work performed by
all Elevator Constructor Mechanics, Helpers and Apprentices
in its employ. The four dollars and seventy seven and one half
cents($4.775) hourly contribution rate shall increase upon every
anniversary of the wage rate change of each Local Union, in
accordance with the following (except as modified pursuant to
Article V, Paragraph 3):
| Effective Date |
Amount of Increase |
Hourly Contribution Rate |
| January 1, 2003 |
$1.00 |
$5.775 |
| January 1, 2004 |
$0.50 |
$6.275 |
| January 1, 2005 |
$0.50 |
$6.775 |
| January 1, 2006 |
$0.50 |
$7.275 |
| January 1, 2007 |
$0.50 |
$7.775 |
Each Elevator Constructor Mechanic, Helper and Apprentice shall
continue to contribute three and one - half cents ($.035) per
hour. Payments of said contributions
by the Employer and Elevator Constructor Mechanics, Helpers
and Apprentices shall be in accordance with the National Elevator
Industry Health Benefit Plan and Declaration of Trust.
Par. 3. It is understood and agreed that the contributions
provided for in Par. 2 shall be used by the Trustees to maintain
the plan of benefits provided by the Health Benefit Plan to
the extent that it is feasible to do so on a sound financial
basis without any increase in said hourly contribution rates
during the term of this Agreement (except as modified by Article
V, Par. 3).
Par. 4. It is understood and agreed that the decision(s) to
increase or decrease the benefits provided by the Health Benefit
Plan are matters committed to the discretion of the Trustees,
except that the Trustees should not make any change in the plan
of benefits which would result in the need for an increase in
the contribution rates set forth in Par. 2. It is further understood
and agreed, that the Actuary of the Health Benefit Plan shall
continuously monitor the financial condition of the Health Benefit
Plan and shall promptly advise the Trustees whenever in the
opinion of the Actuary, it is necessary for the Trustees to
modify benefits provided by the Health Benefit Plan in order
to maintain the Health Benefit Plan in sound financial condition
without any increase in the hourly contribution rates set forth
in Par. 2. The Actuary shall report to the Trustees with respect
to such matters at least once each year as soon as is feasible
after the financial and actuarial information for the Health
Benefit Plan as of the end of the plan year is available.
Par. 5. In no event shall a contribution rate of the Company
exceed the lowest contribution rate paid by any other contributor
to the Health Benefit Plan for the type of work covered by this
Agreement.
