Q: How much does it cost to employ a Local 290 member?
A: The current total package is $55.98/hr so it costs $116,438 annually for an employer to hire a UA 290 member. $42,411 of this package is dedicated to benefits. The contract supporting this rate expires on 3-31-11.
The total package does not include contractor costs for:
- Safety staff and equipment
- Liability, Auto, and Pollution Insurance
- Construction Tools
- Construction Equipment
- Trucks
- Marketing staff and materials
- Laptops, Cell phones
- Accounting staff and systems
- Banking and Bonding Costs
- Estimating staff and systems
- Detailing staff and BIM systems
- Project management
- Executive Management
- HR
- Shop and Warehouse Facilities
- Office Space and Utilities
- Profit
- Taxes
- Legal
- Licenses
- Staff Benefits
Q: How much per hour is dedicated to UA290 benefits?
A: $20.39/hr is managed in trusts to pay for UA 290 benefits.
The remaining $35.69 is paid to the member as a taxable base.
Q: What do contractors (and customers) pay on an annual basis for UA 290 benefits?
A: In 2010, it was $42,411.
Q: What do these benefits include?
A: They include a local pension, national pension, health and welfare (health insurance), pre-funded retiree benefits, training, scholarship, and education.
Q: What percentage of the current package are benefits?
A: Benefits make up over 36% of the current total package.
Q: How have these benefits increased over time?
A: Please see the chart below which illustrates the benefit increases.
- 15 years ago benefits cost $16,578 and were 24% of the total package,
- 10 years ago benefits cost $23,358 and were 26% of the total package
- 5 years ago benefits cost $32,843 and were 32% of the total package.
Q: As a union member, these benefits seem high and keep eating up the additional money that we bargain for with the contractors. What can I do about this?
A: Please see the slide below for background and options.
