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Plumbers' & Pipefitters' Local Union 562 Pension Fund
Multiemployer pension fund for UA Local 562 members, jointly administered with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri since 1959.
Plumbers' & Pipefitters' Local Union 562 Pension Fund
The Plumbers' & Pipefitters' Local Union 562 Pension Fund was established in 1959 as a defined-benefit plan covering eligible members of United Association Local 562 in eastern Missouri. Business Manager John J. O'Mara serves as a trustee, alongside President Richard M. Kellett and Vice President Michael O'Connell III, who also sits on the board of Missouri Technology Corporation. The fund operates out of Earth City, Missouri, drawing its participant base from plumbers, pipefitters and HVAC technicians who work under collective bargaining agreements negotiated between UA Local 562 and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri. The fund allocates across traditional and alternative asset classes, with a notable concentration in institutional real estate. Confirmed positions include a stake in the Morgan Stanley Prime Property Fund and direct ownership of commercial properties such as the Local 562 Training Center and Union Hall in Earth City. The alternative-asset sleeve extends into venture capital, targeting early-stage through growth-stage opportunities. Co-investor relationships are likely structured through specialized investment consultants, though individual fund names remain undisclosed in public filings. Geographic focus skews domestic, with property holdings concentrated in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Team size and total deployment figures are not publicly reported. The fund's governance is anchored in its Taft-Hartley multiemployer structure, with trustees drawn equally from union leadership and contributing employers. Adjacent vehicles include the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 Charitable Fund and a scholarship fund that supports member families. In 2024, the fund continued its active property management of the Corporate Trail Drive complex, which houses both the union hall and a health center for participants. The fund's structural differentiator is its embedded relationship with the contracting community. Unlike public pension systems that operate at arm's length from employers, a multiemployer plan like Local 562 sits at the center of ongoing labor-management negotiations. Contribution rates, benefit accruals and funding ratios are all shaped by the same collective bargaining cycle that sets wages on job sites across eastern Missouri — linking investment performance directly to the health of the local unionized construction market.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1959
AUM
$754M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Earth City
Corporate office
Earth City, MO, United States
Principals
John J. O'Mara
Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
Richard M. Kellett
President
Michael O'Connell III
Vice President
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Plumbers' & Pipefitters' Local Union 562 Pension Fund?
Investment oversight is handled by a board of trustees drawn equally from union leadership and contributing employers under the Taft-Hartley multiemployer structure. Business Manager John J. O'Mara serves as a trustee, alongside President Richard M. Kellett. The board typically delegates day-to-day investment management to external consultants and fund managers, though specific delegation structures are not publicly disclosed by the fund.
How is this pension fund different from a public pension system?
Local 562 is a multiemployer defined-benefit plan governed by the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. It is funded entirely by employer contributions negotiated through collective bargaining agreements between UA Local 562 and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri — not by taxpayer dollars. Contribution levels, benefit formulas and funding policy are all negotiated at the bargaining table, making the fund's health directly tied to union contract cycles.
What is the fund's approach to alternative investments?
The fund maintains a dual alternative-asset strategy centered on institutional real estate and venture capital. Confirmed holdings include a position in the Morgan Stanley Prime Property Fund and direct ownership of commercial properties in Earth City and Bellefontaine Neighbors. The venture program spans early-stage through growth-stage investments, though individual fund commitments are not publicly itemized.
Who are the key labor and management partners involved in the fund?
The fund is jointly administered by UA Local 562 and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri. Labor-side trustees include Business Manager John J. O'Mara, while employer-side trustees are appointed by MCA member companies. This shared governance structure ensures that both the workforce and contributing contractors have representation on funding and investment decisions.
Does the fund maintain any philanthropic or community arms?
Yes. The Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 Charitable Fund and a dedicated scholarship fund provide community support to member families. Additionally, the UA Local 562 Pipetrades Motorcycle Club operates as a member-organized social and charitable group. These are structurally separate from pension assets and are not funded by plan participant contributions.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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