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As part of OEBAC’s continuous efforts to streamline our processes and embrace more efficient practices, we are excited to announce a transition from traditional “wet” signatures to electronic signatures. Initially, this transition will apply only for Personal Information Forms (PIFs) and the Request for Direct Deposit Form, with an expansion planned to include more claims forms shifting to the electronic signature format in the near future. Members who prefer physical signatures may still opt for them by printing, signing and mailing in their forms or claims. All forms are available at oebac.org/forms This move aligns with our commitment to sustainability, productivity, and enhanced security in our operations. To facilitate this transition, a step-by-step tutorial video is available to familiarize yourself with DocuSign, the electronic signature platform we'll be using. CLICK HERE to watch the video. Electronic signatures offer several advantages over paper-based “wet” signatures, including: Efficiency: Electronic signatures significantly speed up the signing process and reduce the processing time, leading to quicker turnaround times for our members. Accessibility: Electronic signatures provide the flexibility to sign documents from anywhere with an internet connection, eliminating the need for physical presence or mailing of documents. This accessibility will improve collaboration and expedite the form completion processes. Security: Electronic signature platforms offer robust security features, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of signatures. Encryption and authentication protocols protect sensitive information, reducing the risk of fraud or tampering. Cost Savings: Moving away from paper-based processes will result in cost savings associated with paper, printing, and storage. These savings can be redirected to other areas of our operations. While change can sometimes be challenging, we are confident that this transition will ultimately benefit the members of Local 793. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to embracing new technologies and processes. Together, we will continue to adapt and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our members and their families. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to OEBAC at info@oebac.org or 1 (844) 793-1919.

Mental Health Week is an annual event that takes place in May to encourage people from all walks of life to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health. The theme this year is “Healing with Compassion.” Compassion isn’t just about being kind to others, it’s about extending that same kindness to ourselves. By treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we offer to others, we open the door to healing, growth, and deeper connections with the world around us. As a Local 793 member, your Life and Health Benefits Plan covers you and your families with psychological assessments and other services like behavioural therapy and immediate assistance. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of all the services available to members and their loved ones through Members Health, where you can speak confidentially with a doctor at any time. The Operating Engineers Benefits Administration Corporation (OEBAC) is here to guide your mental health journey. For a full list of covered mental health services, log in to the Union website and download a copy of your benefits booklet.

February 15 is Pension Awareness Day in Ontario. Created by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FRSA), it is a day designed to spark conversations about the importance of retirement planning. Saving for retirement is expensive - just 38% of workers in Canada were covered by a registered pension plan as of 2021. This means nearly two-thirds of people are likely to have difficulty maintaining their lifestyle once they stop working. A recent poll by FRSA suggested that workers just didn’t have enough information about retirement planning to make it a priority. In fact, about half of those questioned admitted to knowing more about their favourite TV show than their pension! Your IUOE Local 793 Pension Plan The IUOE Local 793 Pension Plan is known as a target benefit pension (TBP), blending elements of defined-benefit and defined-contribution plans to provide a base monthly pension at retirement. Members of IUOE Local 793 automatically become a pension plan member when they work for an employer who makes a contribution to the plan based on hours worked. The exact amount of the contribution is determined by the collective agreement in place with the member’s employer. The income a member receives each month when they retire depends on the total contributions made on their behalf - or credited to them because of WSIB disability. Remember: plan members have a responsibility to review the information provided to them such as semi-annual contribution reports and are encouraged to seek professional advice from a qualified financial planner to ensure retirement goals are achieved. For more information on all aspects of the IUOE Local 793 Pension Plan, click here to read our online guide or to download a copy. We also have an online pension calculator designed specifically for members of the IUOE Local 793 Pension Plan. With this useful tool, members at any stage of their career can track their savings progress and make sure their retirement goals are within reach. The calculator comes fully loaded with the member’s personal information, so results are immediate. All you have to do is log in! Visit the Pension page on the Local 793 website here to get started. If you have a question about your IUOE Local 793 Pension Plan, please contact: Operating Engineers Benefits Administration Corporation (OEBAC) 2201 Speers Rd. Unit 1 Oakville, ON L6L 2X9 Email: info@oebac.org Telephone: 1-844-793-1919 Be sure to have your certificate number (found on the OEBAC Benefits Card) or Union registration number handy when you call for personal benefits information.

Did you know that a recent survey found 5.2% of Canadians aged 15 and up had suffered from some form of anxiety and that just half of those struggling were able to get the help they needed? With Canadians paying $195 million out of pocket every year on psychologists in private practice, the costs involved with accessing services can act as a barrier to those seeking help. However, as a member of Local 793’s Life and Health Benefits Plan, the help you or a loved one requires is only a phone call away. With coverage provided for psychological assessments and other services such as behavioural therapy and immediate assistance offered through Members Health, the Operating Engineers Benefits Administration Corporation (OEBAC) will be behind you every step of the way on your journey to mental wellbeing. For a full list of covered mental health services, log in to the Union website at iuoelocal793.org and download a copy of your benefits booklet.

May this holiday season bring only joy and happiness to you and your loved ones. Wishing you good health, peace, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year. Please note our Holiday Hours: Please be advised that during this time, paper claims will not be processed, and emails and voicemails will not be monitored. On January 2nd, 2024, all claims will be processed in order received, in addition, emails and voicemails will be returned in the order received. Your OEBAC Team wishes you a joyful and fantastic Holiday Season!

The HCSA covers out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses that exceed your Active Benefits Plan coverage. The HCSA maximum benefit is $500 per family per calendar year. Amounts remaining in your HCSA at the end of the calendar year can be carried forward for one year only. The maximum amount you can accumulate in any two (2) year period is $1,000. HCSA can only be used for eligible expenses under our Plan where a plan maximum has been reached. To use your HCSA allocation, you can indicate it on the claim forms or through the mobile or web applications at the time of submission. You can also submit using a HCSA claim form, found on https://www.oebac.org/forms, expand the Health & Welfare Claimsand download the Health Care Spending Account Claim form. Step 1: Download the claim form. You can fill it out online or print it out and fill it out. Step 2: Complete the form. Please include the claim number with the outstanding balance under the Supplier’s Name and Address column and under the Amount ($), please include the outstanding balance amount. Step 3: Remember to sign, date and fill out the MVA section Step 4: Submit the claim for submission. Email: o Save the form and proof of payment (showing the outstanding balance paid) electronically and email it to info@oebac.org Electronic submission through the mobile or web applications: o Save the form and proof of payment (showing the outstanding balance paid) electronically and upload it as an image for submission. Mail: o Include the form, and proof of payment (showing the outstanding balance paid) and send it to the address below: OEBAC Claims Department 2201 Speers Road, Unit 1 Oakville, ON, L6L 2X9

On the morning of Saturday, October 14, we will be conducting a scheduled power outage at our Oakville head office as the IT Department works to install an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) system for our new computer servers. The outage will last for approximately 4-5 hours, beginning at 9 A.M. This upgrade is crucial to enhancing our infrastructure’s reliability, while also ensuring the integrity and safety of the Union’s and our members’ data. As a result, members will not be able to access services usually available through the Local 793 or OEBAC websites or the OEBAC mobile app – such as paying Union dues or filing a benefits claim – for the duration of the shutdown. We apologize for any inconvenience this temporary interruption may cause and very much appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Contact Global Benefits to learn more by calling 1-855-660-1364 Dear Member: We write to inform you about a cybersecurity breach experienced by our former benefit plan administrator, Global Benefits. We understand that notification from Global Benefits is forthcoming, but we wish to provide you advance notice as soon as possible. We have been informed by Global Benefits that a cybersecurity breach has affected some of our members whose historical records were retained by Global Benefits. We want to assure you that there is no impact on our current benefit or pension plan. We understand that all affected members will receive a notification letter from Global Benefits this week. If you do not receive this letter, Global Benefits has not identified you as an affected individual. Global Benefits has indicated that the personal data that may have been accessed in this cybersecurity breach may include names, addresses, dates of birth, banking information and social Insurance numbers. We have been informed by Global Benefits that the cybersecurity breach occurred on January 16, 2023. The cybersecurity incident was only brought to our attention recently. We took immediate action upon learning of the incident to investigate and address the situation, prioritizing the protection of your data and privacy. Upon learning about the security breach, we requested a comprehensive plan and information concerning Global Benefit's management of the data breach. We also received guidance from legal counsel so that we can ensure that we are taking all available steps to protect your personal information. Together with Legal Counsel we continue to review information provided by Global Benefits to ensure that all necessary steps are taken, and any potential harmful effects are mitigated. We encourage all affected members to take advantage of the 12-month credit monitoring service offered by Global Benefits through Equifax which is no cost to you and paid solely by Global Benefits. The Equifax service will provide you with notification in the circumstance where there is fraudulent activity on your credit report. The service MUST be activated by August 31, 2023. The activation code is located on the letter from Global Benefits to affected members which we understand will be sent this week. If you did not receive an activation code or you need assistance with your activation, please contact the Global Benefits dedicated call centre at 1-855-660-1364. It is important that all affected union members enroll in Equifax services as soon as possible in order to receive protection against fraud and identity theft insurance of up to $1,000,000 in the unfortunate case of damages related to fraud, as outlined in the Global Benefits letter. We ask that you continue to remain vigilant regarding any threats of identity theft and fraud including any unauthorized transactions. We understand this event is stressful and we are reviewing Global Benefits response to this breach with the assistance of Legal Counsel. We understand that Global Benefits has engaged cybersecurity experts in this process to take measures to avoid future security incidents. We will continue to review Global Benefit's response and take every action available to ensure the protection of our membership's sensitive personal information. We want to clarify that Global Benefit was a third-party company that we worked with until 2019. Since then, we have discontinued our partnership and they are no longer involved in our operations. We are mentioning this to provide complete transparency and assure you that their breach does not impact the security of your data within our systems. Simultaneously, our dedicated IT team has been actively involved in implementing precautionary measures to fortify our own security infrastructure. In an effort to ensure the utmost protection, we have requested all third-party companies that work with us to provide their latest security reports and penetration test results. This allows us to thoroughly assess their security protocols and verify their alignment with our stringent standards. We want to assure you that our existing security measures within our IT infrastructure are robust and designed to safeguard your data. Here are some examples: Firewalls with Traffic Control: We utilize powerful firewalls that help us control and monitor the traffic entering and leaving our network. These firewalls enable us to prevent unauthorized access attempts and ensure the security of our systems. Data Encryption: We employ strong encryption techniques to protect your data both during transmission and at rest. This ensures that your information remains confidential and inaccessible to unauthorized individuals. Access Controls: We have implemented strict access control mechanisms, including stringent password policies, and role-based access controls. These measures ensure that only authorized personnel can access your data. Data Backups and Disaster Recovery: We have implemented comprehensive data backup procedures to ensure the availability and recoverability of your information in the event of data loss or system failures. Our disaster recovery plans are regularly tested to ensure effective recovery procedures. Employee Training: Our staff undergoes regular training programs to enhance their awareness of cybersecurity best practices. This includes recognizing and avoiding phishing attempts, practicing good password hygiene, and being vigilant against social engineering attacks. Ongoing Security Updates: We regularly update our systems, software, and applications with the latest security patches and enhancements. This helps protect against known vulnerabilities and ensures the overall security of our infrastructure. Compliance with Data Protection Regulations: We strictly adhere to applicable data protection and privacy regulations. Our practices align with industry standards, and we continuously evaluate and improve our procedures to maintain compliance. Security Policy updates: We ensure the continuous enhancement of our IT security policies by regularly reviewing and updating them. While we already have robust security measures in place, we are committed to continuously improving our security framework. In light of the recent incident, we are actively exploring the implementation of a stronger monitoring system to enhance our network traffic control and further bolster our security capabilities. We apologize for any inconvenience or concern this incident may cause you. If you have questions regarding this incident, please contact Global Benefit dedicated call centre at 1-855-660-1364 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST Monday to Friday. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support as we work diligently to resolve this matter. Questions & Answers How do I know if my data has been compromised? You will receive a letter from Global Benefits, stating that your data was compromised. If you do not receive a letter, then you must have not been affected. If you are a new member or joined Local 793 after November 1, 2019, you will not be affected. What do I do if I am affected? Contact Global Benefits at 1-855-660-1364 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Monday to Friday. Strongly encouraged to enroll in the 12-month credit monitoring service through Equifax offered by Global Benefits for all affected members. What steps is the Union/Local 793 taking to protect my data? The Local 793 IT team is involved in the following: implementing precautionary measures to fortify our own security infrastructure and stronger monitoring system to enhance our network traffic control and further bolster our security capabilities. requesting all third-party companies that work with us to provide their latest security reports and penetration test results. This allows us to thoroughly assess their security protocols and verify their alignment with our stringent standards. When did the breach occur? The breach occurred on January 16, 2023, and Local 793 was notified in early May of the breach. Local 793 took immediate action upon learning of the incident to investigate and address the situation, prioritizing the protection of your data and privacy, and sought legal counsel. Will this impact my benefits or pensions? The breach will not have any impact on your current benefits or pension Plan.

Mental health, suicide and addiction issues have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. While many Canadians have been affected, workers in the construction and trades have been disproportionately impacted. Partly in response to this crisis, in 2021 the Benefits Plan Trustees increased mental health coverage for Active members and encouraged all members to seek support to optimize their mental health. According to the latest Annual Benefits report - which you can read in the latest copy of 793 Operator magazine - that focus on mental wellbeing is having a positive effect and more members than ever before are seeking the help they and their families need. Claims paid by the plan in 2022 for mental health practitioners (including psychologists, social workers and psychotherapists) increased by 50% from 2021.

As part of the Local 793 family – which includes OETIO and the OE Banquet & Conference Centre – OEBAC operates without having to rely on the services of a third-party insurer, which means more money stays in the plan. In 2019, Local 793 created the Operating Engineers Benefits Administration Corporation (OEBAC) to take over the day-to-day administration of the Union’s Life and Health Benefits Plan, Group Legal Plan and Pension Plan. With Local 793 President Joe Redshaw leading OEBAC as Executive Director, members can be sure that OEBAC is focused on continuously improving the plans and putting contributions to work where they will make the most difference. Through expanding the range of benefits available to members or by introducing new technology that makes it quicker and easier for members to make a claim and get reimbursed, OEBAC remains committed to providing a platinum level service and improving the quality of life of members and their families. This all means that it's your Union, your benefits and pension and OEBAC is your Administrator!

Your Monthly Pension Payments, via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), will be processed on the 1st of every month which correlates with your official retirement date. However, if the 1st of the month falls on a weekend or on a statutory holiday, OEBAC will process your payment on the business day before the weekend or the statutory holiday. See the 2023 Pension Payment schedule below: IUOE Local 793 Members Pension Trust 2023 Pension Payment Dates

OEBAC is extremely proud to be marking our 3rd anniversary on November 1, 2022. The establishment of OEBAC for self-administration of your Life & Health Benefits Plan and Pension Plan was a historic moment for Local 793 and a bold step forward in how the plans were being administered. OEBAC Executive Director Joe Redshaw said, “I am proud of how OEBAC has grown in just the three short years we have been providing pension and benefit services to our members and their families. We are continually finding ways to improve services with ongoing training and education of our staff and I welcome Brian Alexander to the team as the Manager of Operations.” In 2017, property was purchased adjacent to head office in Oakville. Shortly after, OEBAC moved in, giving it a permanent base from which to provide an improved level of service to members and their families. After more than a year of hard work by the Local 793 transition team, the benefit plan was switched to self-administration under OEBAC on November 1, 2019. The members’ pension plan moved to self-administration on January 1, 2020. As we celebrated the three-year anniversary of OEBAC, we turn to the work that lies ahead. The OEBAC team remains dedicated to providing a platinum level benefits administration service to members and their families. We look forward to many more successful years ahead serving you.