On January 1, 2024, the UNITE HERE Northwest Pension Trust, along with four other west coast UNITE HERE pension funds (Southern Nevada, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Diego), merged into the Western UNITE HERE and Employers Pension Fund (the “Western Pension Fund”).

Any benefits participants earned in any of the merging plans before the merger did not change. Also, all service in the areas covered by the merging plans will apply towards the vesting rules for entitlement to a benefit under the Western Pension Fund.

The Western Pension Fund is better positioned to weather economic downturns and financial crises because the Fund covers a broader, more geographically diverse contribution base of employees in the gaming, hospitality, restaurant and food-service industries. The merger also has resulted in administrative efficiencies and improved investment opportunities.