Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds

What Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds does

Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds, legally known as the Chicago & Vicinity Laborers' District Council Funds, is a Taft-Hartley multiemployer trust fund established in 1950 (Health & Welfare) and 1963 (Pension) to administer health, welfare, pension, disability, and death benefits for union laborers and their dependents in the Chicago metropolitan area. The Fund is administered by a Joint Board of Trustees with equal representation from labor (LIUNA-affiliated local unions) and contributing employer associations, and operates under ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and PPA federal regulatory frameworks. It serves participants across 19 local unions (Locals 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 25, 75, 76, 96, 118, 152, 225, 269, 288, 681, 1001, 1002, 1006, and 1092), paying out over $109 million annually in pension benefits to 7,300+ pensioners and beneficiaries as of 2009, with the Pension Fund maintaining 91.8% funded status and continuous Green Zone PPA certification through the 2024-2025 plan year.

The Fund operates two core product lines: the Health & Welfare Fund (Active Plans 1-4 for working participants and Retiree Plans 1-4 plus a Retiree Basic Medical Coverage Plan, with retiree premiums scaled from $200/month at 15 years of participation to $0/month at 35+ years) and the Pension Fund (a defined benefit plan offering normal, early, disability, and deferred pensions with multiple payment options). Supporting technology infrastructure includes a Member Self-Service Portal (launched 2020) for participant self-management and an Employer Self-Service Portal (launched 2022) for signatory employer contribution reporting. Benefits are delivered through third-party administrator networks: BCBSIL for medical PPO, CVS/Caremark for prescription, Delta Dental for dental, VSP for vision, EPIC for hearing aids, ComPsych for the Member Assistance Program, and chronic disease management partnerships with Livongo and Virta.

The Fund is financed entirely through employer contributions negotiated via collective bargaining agreements (currently $17.71/hour as of June 1, 2025, up from $8.57/hour in June 2010) plus investment income. It holds IRS Section 401(a) tax-exempt status, has reciprocal pension coordination agreements with peer funds in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Texas, and is led by Administrator Catherine Wenskus and Secretary David H. Lorig from its sole office at 11465 W. Cermak Road, Westchester, IL.

Name

Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds

Legal name

Chicago & Vicinity Laborers' District Council Funds

Website

https://chicagolaborersfunds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds is a Taft-Hartley multiemployer trust fund administering health, welfare, and defined benefit pension coverage for union construction laborers across 19 LIUNA local unions in the Chicago metropolitan area, funded entirely by collectively bargained employer contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multiemployer Pension and Welfare Benefits

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Pension Funds (52511), Health and Welfare Funds (52512), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro primary industry

Taft-Hartley / Labor Union & Public Sector Retirement Systems (FSAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Multiemployer pension fund
• Health welfare benefits
• Taft-Hartley trust fund
• Union laborer benefits
• Defined benefit pension

Headquarters

HQ city

Westchester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Employer Contributions: The Fund is financed entirely by employer contributions negotiated through the collective bargaining process and investment income. Contributions are made by signatory employers under requirements of collective bargaining agreements between contributing employers and participating local unions

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds is a Taft-Hartley multiemployer trust that delivers Health & Welfare benefits (medical, prescription, dental, vision, hearing, weekly income/disability, member assistance) and a defined benefit Pension to eligible union laborers and their dependents in the Chicago area. Financing comes from per-hour employer contributions established through collective bargaining, supplemented by investment income, with benefits administered through the Westchester, IL Fund Office and integrated Member and Employer Self-Service Portals.

Product overview

Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds operates as a Taft-Hartley multi-employer benefit fund providing a comprehensive suite of health and retirement benefits to union laborers. The organization offers two core products: (1) Health & Welfare Fund covering both active participants (Active Plans 1-4) and retirees (Retiree Plans 1-4 with Retiree Basic Medical Coverage), providing medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and hearing benefits plus disability and death benefits; and (2) Pension Fund offering defined benefit retirement options. Supporting infrastructure includes the Member Self-Service Portal for participant self-management and the Employer Self-Service Portal for contribution reporting. The fund is administered by a Joint Board of Trustees with equal union and employer representation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health & Welfare Fund - Active Plans Health & Welfare benefit plan providing medical, hospital, surgical, major medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, hearing, weekly income/disability, and member assistance program coverage to active union laborers and dependents covered by collective bargaining agreements, funded by per-hour employer contributions.
• Health & Welfare Fund - Retiree Plans Retiree Health & Welfare coverage providing medical and related benefits to retired union laborers and surviving dependents who meet the plan's eligibility rules, including weekly income benefits and access to the Member Self-Service Portal.
• Pension Fund (Defined Benefit) Defined benefit pension plan providing monthly retirement income to eligible union laborers, with options for single life or joint survivor payouts, Surviving Dependent benefits, and Death Benefits, funded by employer contributions and managed by the Joint Board of Trustees.
• Member Self-Service Portal Online portal enabling union laborers and dependents to access benefits information, forms, and self-service account functions for the Health & Welfare and Pension Funds.
• Employer Self-Service Portal (ESS) Online portal enabling signatory employers to remit per-hour contributions, submit reports, and manage compliance tasks related to the Health & Welfare and Pension Funds.
• COBRA Continuation Coverage

Quantifiable outcome

• 91.8% funded percentage (2024-2025 plan year) - Green Zone certified
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL)coreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary medical PPO network provider offering hospital and major medical benefits to plan participants through the BlueCard PPO network with participating physicians and hospitals throughout the Chicago area and nationwide
• CVS/CaremarkcoreTechnology or IntegrationPharmacy Benefit Manager providing prescription drug benefits through over 50,000 participating pharmacies nationwide including major drug chains; also provides specialty drug program for ongoing major illnesses
• Delta Dental of IllinoiscoreTechnology or IntegrationDental Preferred Provider Organization with two PPO networks (Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier) providing dental benefits to plan participants
• VSP (Vision Service Plan)coreTechnology or IntegrationVision care network providing discounted vision care including annual eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses through CHOICE network providers
• ComPsych GuidanceResourcescoreTechnology or IntegrationMember Assistance Program providing confidential counseling, resources and information for personal and work-life issues for members and dependents at no cost
• LIUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America) National Reciprocal AgreementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension coordination for members who work in different jurisdictions and participated in other laborers pension plans; includes signatory funds across multiple states
• Central Laborers Pension Fund (Jacksonville, IL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension fund partner for coordination of benefits when members work across jurisdictional boundaries
• Fox Valley & Vicinity Laborers Pension Fund (Elgin, IL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension fund partner for coordination of benefits across Northern Illinois regions
• Building Trades United Pension Trust Fund (Elm Grove, WI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension fund partner for Wisconsin-based laborer members
• Indiana Laborers Pension Fund (Terre Haute, IN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension fund partner for Indiana-based laborer members
• Laborers' National Pension Fund (Dallas, TX)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension fund partner for Texas and national laborers
• LIUNA National (Industrial) Pension Fund (Washington, DC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational industrial pension fund for LIUNA members; retirees receiving benefits from this fund may be eligible for Chicago Laborers retiree medical coverage
• Michigan Laborers' Fringe Benefit Funds (Lansing, MI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension and benefit fund partner for Michigan-based laborer members
• Greater St. Louis Construction Laborers Pension FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal pension fund partner for St. Louis area laborers

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fox Valley & Vicinity Laborers' Pension Fund: Elgin, IL-based Taft-Hartley LIUNA pension and welfare fund covering northern Illinois laborers; comparable in scale, structure, and service territory and a reciprocal partner to the subject fund.
• Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Pension Fund: Taft-Hartley defined-benefit pension and welfare fund covering union carpenters in the Chicago region; directly comparable construction-industry multiemployer plan serving the same local labor market.
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) / IBEW Local 134 Pension Fund: Chicago-area Taft-Hartley pension and welfare fund covering union electricians; same construction-industry multiemployer trust structure and overlapping geographic service area as the subject fund.
• Laborers' National Pension Fund: National-scale LIUNA Taft-Hartley defined benefit pension fund covering Laborers' International union members across multiple states; directly comparable as a multiemployer laborer pension plan with reciprocal ties to the subject fund.
• LIUNA National (Industrial) Pension Fund: National industrial pension fund for LIUNA members; explicitly identified as a reciprocal partner to the Chicago Laborers Fund and operates the same Taft-Hartley defined-benefit multiemployer model.
• Teamsters Central States Pension Fund: Large multiemployer defined-benefit Teamsters pension plan in the Midwest; comparable Taft-Hartley structure and participant scale, though currently under special partition assistance following funding distress.
• Central Laborers' Pension Fund: Jacksonville, IL-based LIUNA Taft-Hartley pension fund serving central and southern Illinois laborers; direct peer in geography and union affiliation, and a documented reciprocal partner.

Regional players

• Indiana Laborers Pension Fund: Terre Haute, IN-based LIUNA multiemployer pension and welfare fund serving Indiana construction laborers; same Taft-Hartley model, comparable benefit offerings, and documented reciprocal partner.
• Michigan Laborers' Fringe Benefit Funds: Lansing, MI-based LIUNA multiemployer pension and welfare fund; comparable Taft-Hartley construction-industry trust with reciprocal relationship to the subject fund.

Emerging players

• Operating Engineers Local 150 Pension Fund: Taft-Hartley multiemployer pension and welfare fund covering heavy-equipment operators in Illinois and Indiana; same joint-trustee governance and defined-benefit pension structure but covering a different construction trade.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Laborers Pension & Welfare Funds