Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System

How Does Reciprocity Work for IBEW Local 48 Electricians?

When you travel to work outside of your home Local and check in with the outside Local's office to be dispatched, that Local office will notify via the ERTS (Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System) both the participating and home trust fund offices that you are to be dispatched in their jurisdiction (for Health Plan and Flex Plan purposes, you are not considered a Traveler when working in Local 48, 280, 659, or 932).

The Local notifies the participating funds so that they may prepare to transfer reciprocal monies received on your behalf and notifies your home funds to expect to receive the money. When working at a Local outside of Harrison's jurisdiction, there is a delay in Harrison receiving your reciprocity. For example, February work hours will be received by Harrison Trust sometime in April for April coverage. To avoid lapses in coverage when you are traveling outside our jurisdiction, you can pay into your hourly reserve bank. Please contact the Trust Office at (800) 547-4457 or (503) 224-0048 extension 1632 for more information.

In order to ensure that your contributions are reciprocated properly you must register in the ERTS system when you travel outside of your home Local's jurisdiction. Please be sure to check in at the Local office whose jurisdiction you intend to work so that they may notify the various trust offices.

Are You Registered On ERTS?

If you are working in the jurisdiction of another Local Union either by taking a dispatch or sent by your employer you must check in with their Business Office and be registered on the Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System (ERTS). ERTS will ensure that your pension and health care benefits are transferred according to your wishes. Failure to do so will result in your benefits being left in the Local Union whose jurisdiction you worked.

You must register at a Local Business Office. The process takes less than 10 minutes. The ERTS system has replaced the old paper reciprocal forms and replaced it with a one time (lifetime) registration.  

To register at Local 48 call Meghan Cicerich (503) 251-9759.

Remember you are working under the collective bargaining agreement of the jurisdiction that you are working in. You are accumulating wages, pension, and health & welfare $/hrs under that agreement. For example, if the health & welfare rate in the jurisdiction you are working pays a lower amount per hour into health & welfare, your eligibility will not be the same as when you are working at home. You need to confirm your eligibility with Harrison.

If you are working in a jurisdiction that does not have a defined contribution pension, (like our) 9^th District Pension, you will not be receiving contributions. The same applies for a defined benefit pension (like our) Edison.

After you are registered: Check in with the Local Business Office. Tell them you are registered on ERTS.

Keep track of your hours and please remember that the reciprocity process takes two months. The same time it takes when you are working in Local 48. Your benefits reported from your employer are not due until the 15^th of the following month from which you started work. If you wish, check in with the administrators after the 2^nd month to confirm contributions have been made on your behalf. This is not required you will receive statements from the administrators throughout the year.

If you are already registered ask the people you are working with if they are registered.

No Longer Registered in the ERTS System?

 If you are no longer registered in the ERTS system (https://erts.ibew.com/index.htm) or no longer have your PIN (personal identification number) please contact your  IBEW Local office. They can assist you with this process.