Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE NCCMP'S ROLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS?
The NCCMP maintains a strong presence on Capitol Hill. Long-standing relationships have been developed with members of Congress and their staffs. The NCCMP regularly testifies at congressional hearings, prepares written comments on legislative proposals, advises committee staffers, supports positive legislation, and proposes or seeks to change legislation that could adversely affect our member plans. The NCCMP has also undertaken activities to have needed legislation passed when such actions were determined to be in the best interests of the plans, their participants and sponsoring organizations. Virtually every piece of employee benefit legislation is influenced by the NCCMP for the benefit of multiemployer plans and their participants.

WHAT IS THE NCCMP'S ROLE IN THE REGULATORY PROCESS?
The NCCMP is involved with administrative agencies such as the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as they develop and implement regulations. Through meetings, testimony and written submissions, the NCCMP provides agency officials with our member’s unique perspective. On request, we have also provided training assistance to federal agencies to help them better understand the nature and operations of our plans.

WHAT IS THE NCCMP'S ROLE IN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS?
Some of the most important decisions involving multiemployer plans are made in the court system--and the NCCMP is there. The NCCMP participates as amicus curiae in virtually all Supreme Court cases affecting multiemployer plans and in many precedent-setting courts of appeals cases. When a decision is not favorable to our members, the NCCMP has sought a legislative remedy.

WHO ARE THE NCCMP'S LEADERSHIP?
The NCCMP has a voluntary board of directors representing plans, unions and employers chosen and known for their involvement with and commitment to multiemployer plans. The NCCMP professional staff includes attorneys, actuaries, and legislative representatives with vast multiemployer plan experience.

WHO ARE THE NCCMP'S MEMBERS?
The NCCMP has three membership classifications: Contributing Members, Sustaining Members, and Regular Members.

In general, International Unions and national employer associations join as Contributing Members, while national and multi-state funds that support the goals and activities of the NCCMP and who wish to take a more active role in determining the direction of the organization with respect to policy and regulatory issues join as Sustaining Members. Regular Members include Local, regional and District Council pension, health and welfare, and other benefit funds as well as Local Unions, local employer associations and individual contributing employers. The NCCMP Sustaining Members and Regular Members represent national, regional and local benefit plans covering workers in the building and construction trades, bakery and confectionery, clothing, entertainment, food and commercial, health care, hotel, textile, transportation, steel and maritime industries.

HOW ARE THE NCCMP'S ACTIVITIES FINANCED?
The NCCMP is wholly dependent on membership dues for its income. One annual dues payment covers all related plans with the same participants.

CAN NCCMP MEMBERSHIP DUES BE PAID OUT OF PLAN ASSETS?
Yes. Membership in the NCCMP is a legitimate expenditure for a tax-exempt employee benefit fund. Of course, each plan should check with its own professional advisors for a formal opinion regarding any matter requiring a legal interpretation. (For additional information in pdf, click one of the following titles. DOLOpinion.pdf -- DuesProperAdminExpense.pdf )

WE BELONG TO THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. DO WE REALLY NEED TO BELONG TO ANOTHER GROUP?
ABSOLUTELY--The International Foundation and the NCCMP each serve important, but quite different purposes, even though they both serve some of the same groups of plans. The International Foundation is an educational forum for all types of benefit plans (corporate, public and multiemployer), but its own charter prohibits it from acting on behalf of any particular group or viewpoint. Conversely, the NCCMP is the only organization specifically created to act as an advocate on behalf of multiemployer plans as your "voice" with Congress and the regulatory agencies to influence, from your point of view, the laws and regulations that will govern multiemployer plans, before they become a reality. The NCCMP also provides education to members on matters of particular importance to plan fiduciaries, settlors, professional advisors and participants.

HOW DO I BECOME A NCCMP MEMBER?
If you are interested in membership, simply click here and you will be taken to the Membership Application page. If you want more information on NCCMP membership, click here and you will be taken to the Membership Information page.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NCCMP MEMBERSHIP?
In addition to ensuring that your voice is heard, NCCMP membership assures that your plan trustees, administrators and professionals will receive NCCMP publications, education and advisory materials, discount registration fees for the annual NCCMP conference, and your membership provides an opportunity to participate in the NCCMP Lawyers and Administrators Advisory Committee.

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