In our Craft and Tree Divisions, we currently have more than 700 members who work for various contractors that are signatory to our outside agreements. Referred to as Taft-Hartley plans or multiemployer plans, these plans provide benefits to a unique segment of the unionized workforce; employees that move from employer to employer within an industry. The Taft-Harley Act of 1947 allows for a jointly administered labor-management trust fund for the sole and exclusive benefit of employees, their families and dependents.

The Trustees are appointed by their respective groups and are always equal in numbers. Listed below are the Trustees representing our 1049 Benefit Funds. Currently the IBEW Local 1049 Benefit Funds are valued at approximately $45 million collectively.

Craft Division of Local 1049 Health & Welfare Fund

Provides medical, dental, vision, short term disability, health reimbursement arrangement, vacation and life insurance for eligible participants

For the Employer

Walter Behrens Jr.
Michael Gilchrist
Richard Reed

For the Union

Robert Shand
Don Daley, Jr.
Pierce Brennan

IBEW Local 1049 Craft Annuity Fund

Provides retirement income for plan participants

For the Employer

Walter Behrens Jr.
Michael Gilchrist
Richard Reed

For the Union

Robert Shand
Don Daley, Jr.
Pierce Brennan

IBEW Local 1049 Craft Skill Improvement Training Fund

Provides for CDL, First Aid, DOT, Certifications and, Drug & Alcohol Testing

For the Employer

Walter Behrens Jr.
Michael Gilchrist
Richard Reed

For the Union

Robert Shand
Don Daley, Jr.
Pierce Brennan

IBEW Local 1049 Line Clearance Tree Trimming Training Fund

Provides for CDL, First Aid, DOT, Certifications and, Drug & Alcohol Testing

For the Employer

Brian Fuge
Frank Giordano

For the Union

Robert Shand
Pierce Brennan

IBEW LOCAL 1049 Vacation Fund

Provides for vacation, unemployment and life insurance benefit to plan participants

For the Employer

Brian Fuge
Frank Giordano

For the Union

Robert Shand
Pierce Brennan

In addition to our Boards of Trustees, the day to day administration of our plans is managed by Director Ellen Redmond, Benefits Manager Dawn Purcell and Benefits Coordinator Johanna Villamar.

The Electronic Reciprocity Transfer System (ERTS)

In 2002 the IBEW implemented an on-line reciprocity system, called ERTS. ERTS is an acronym for Electronic Reciprocity Transfer System. This state of the art technology provides a private, secure web-based network, which is used by temporary employees, known as travelers in the industry, to register for the reciprocity of their benefits when working outside of their home local. This system was designed to save time, paperwork, and aggravation for IBEW members and fund offices alike.

Today 1049 Members can travel outside their jurisdiction with the comfort of knowing that the contributions they earn towards their pension and health & welfare funds will be transferred back to their home fund automatically. The new system has worked extremely well, and particularly when 1049 Members travel to other jurisdictions to assist in storm restoration.