Idaho Plumbers and Pipefitters Pension Plan

Idaho Plumbers and Pipefitters Pension Plan

The Idaho Plumbers and Pipefitters Pension Plan operates as a multi-employer Taft-Hartley defined-benefit fund, pooling contributions from signatory employers across Idaho and Montana to provide lifetime retirement income for participating union plumbers and pipefitters. The Board of Trustees, including Plan Sponsor Mark Hosick, oversees the plan's administration and investment policy, with the fund's own record stating benefit accrual rules were updated as of June 1, 2022 (per the plan's summary documentation, 2022). Contributing employers span mechanical construction, utility distribution, and energy infrastructure — MDU Resources Group, Cascade Natural Gas, Intermountain Gas, and EMCOR Group are among the entities making negotiated contributions on behalf of covered workers. The plan's investment posture is anchored in a mix of fixed-income and real estate assets. Public records identify an Investment Grade Debt Portfolio, a High-Yield Debt Portfolio, and a position in the ASB Allegiance Real Estate Fund, a core open-end commercial real estate vehicle. This allocation suggests a liability-driven approach typical of mature Taft-Hartley plans where capital preservation and income generation are prioritized over aggressive growth. The plan does not publicly disclose its total asset size, making it one of many smaller US multi-employer pension funds that operate below mandatory regulatory transparency thresholds. The fund's governance is tied to three participating UA Local unions: Local 296 in Boise, Local 648 in Pocatello, and Local 41 in Butte, Montana. Employer contributions are collectively bargained, and the plan's asset base reflects the economic cycle of commercial and industrial construction in the Intermountain West. While the plan does not appear to have a dedicated investment staff, the Board of Trustees retains fiduciary responsibility for selecting investment managers, monitoring the ASB Allegiance commitment, and reviewing the plan's funded status. What distinguishes this plan structurally is its isolation from broader state pension systems. It is not part of PERSI (the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho); it is a standalone Taft-Hartley fund governed jointly by union and employer trustees under federal ERISA rules. This architecture means the plan cannot be pooled or merged into a statewide system without a discrete action by its trustees, making its investment decisions fully independent from Idaho's public pension governance.