OPSEU Joint Trusteed Benefit Fund

TRUSTEES WANTED!

The OPSEU Joint Trusteed Benefit Fund (OJTBF) is seeking OPSEU members who are also members of the Trust benefit plan, to join our Board of Trustees as a Union Trustee. Please also feel free to suggest any employer Trustee you believe may be a good candidate.

Created by OPSEU as a not-for-profit health and welfare trust in 1996, the OJTBF 'pools' small groups' benefit dollars together to form a large buying group. This buying group can provide benefit advantages for small groups (in general, groups with less than 500 members) that are normally reserved for larger groups. This means greater flexibility in benefit choices, coverage for some groups that might otherwise have difficulty finding group benefits, lower administrative charges to the plan (more benefit dollars go towards benefits, less to administration) and better financial terms than small groups can get in the general market place. And since the Trust is non-profit, profit margins are not part of the cost of the plan. Bottom line: OJTBF's financial value serves members best.

Today the OJTBF has grown to over 140 participating groups, insuring over 7,000 people, and we continue to grow because of the value offered to our clients.

As you know the cost of the health services and products that are paid for by a benefits plan are rising at a far greater rate than general inflation. The OJTBF does not immunized groups from this inflation—the rising costs are a fact of life for all groups. The OJTBF does ensure that the maximum amount of premium dollars paid goes to actually paying claims, while minimizing the amount going to administrative expenses.

We are looking for people who have a firm a deep commitment to ensuring the success of an organization where principles such as providing quality benefits for all and ensuring the maximum benefit dollars go toward paying member's life, health and disability benefits, are at the core of the mission. As a Trustee you will be working alongside employer representatives on the board to deal with these realities in a proactive and constructive joint effort.

Trustees play a crucial role in the oversight and growth of the Trust Fund, and valuable input into helping the Trust meet its goals. The Trust structure, with equal numbers of union and employer Trustees does this in a way that recognizes the interdependence of union members and employers in delivering quality benefits as effectively and efficiently as possible.

The Trust Fund maintains a pool of OPSEU and Employer Trustee candidates from which Trustees are selected. Trustees will be selected by the Plan Sponsor, in a manner that looks for broad representation within our client base. Trustees are appointed for a 2 year term.

Who should apply?

Individuals with:

• A desire to serve in manner that supports the broad interests of the Trust's mission;

• A commitment of 'time' to your Trust Fund (In addition to a minimum of four Trustee meetings per year, additional time for committee meetings and work, along with preparation time).

• An interest in benefits and some fundamental knowledge of benefits field or a willingness to commit to learning (supported by materials from the Trust);

• An understanding of OPSEU's beliefs and policies;

• A demonstrated ability to read, research and formulate positions clearly and to work in a cooperative "joint" environment;

• An ability to articulate positions at caucus, committee and full Board of Trustees meetings.
   

Interviews with candidates will be conducted by the Board of Trustees before final names are submitted to the Plan Sponsor for consideration.

Please become a Trustee candidate by submitting a letter of interest and your resume (including two references) to:

Tara Dunne
Secretary to the Board of Trustees Trustee Selection Committee OPSEU Joint Trusteed Benefit Fund
515 Consumers Road, Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario
M2J 4Z2

Email:  tdunne@ojtbf.ca

Fax: 416-443-3185