The benefits of being a union member are huge. On average, unionized workers earn about 28 percent more in wages than nonunion workers. They are nearly twice as likely to have an employer-paid pension as nonunion workers. And in 2010, 84 percent of union workers were covered by an employer-sponsored health care insurance plan, compared to only 55 percent of nonunion workers.
Communities benefit from unions as well. Studies show that unions are good for business, productivity, and the economy. They lift families out of poverty and are credited by many historians with creating the U.S. middle class.
For more information on the benefits of unions, visit the Union Difference page on the AFL-CIO web site.
The page you are currently on contains links to information on benefits specifically for Boilermakers and their families. Since our founding in 1880, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers has sought to improve the quality of life for our members through better wages and benefits.
Today, the Brotherhood participates in three Taft-Hartley trusts that provide pensions, health insurance, and an annuity for those locals who participate. These labor-management trusts offer participating members the opportunity for a more secure retirement as well quality health care for themselves and their families. Some members have other types of benefits through their employers and do not participate in these plans.
The three national trusts include: Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust, the Boilermakers National Health and Welfare Fund, and the Boilermakers National Annuity Trust. All are administered through the Brotherhood’s National Funds Office.
For additional information on these three Taft-Hartley Trusts, visit www.bnf-kc.com.
Canadian Boilermakers have access to separate national benefits through the Boilermakers’ National Benefit Plans (Canada). Visit www.boilermakersbenefits.ca for details.
Other benefits available to members include the Boilermaker Scholarship Program, UnionPlus, Legal Services, and Boilermaker Vacation Trust (available to members in the Western States Section). Choose the links at left for additional information.