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Refrigeration, A/C & Service Div. (UA-NJ) Pension Plan
The Refrigeration, A/C & Service Div. (UA-NJ) Pension Plan was established in 1968 as a multiemployer defined benefit plan under the collective bargaining...
Refrigeration, A/C & Service Div. (UA-NJ) Pension Plan
The Refrigeration, A/C & Service Div. (UA-NJ) Pension Plan was established in 1968 as a multiemployer defined benefit plan under the collective bargaining framework between the Mechanical Service Contractors of America and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry. The plan covers unionized service technicians specializing in commercial and industrial refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating systems across New Jersey. Participating employers fund the plan through hourly contributions negotiated in labor agreements. The fund manages an estimated $300–$400M (Altss estimate) across a conservative, income-oriented portfolio typical of mature Taft-Hartley pension plans. Asset allocation likely spans domestic fixed income, public equities, and alternative investments through commingled vehicles — a structure mirrored by similar UA local plans that allocate to real estate, infrastructure, and private credit funds. Geographic focus remains concentrated on US markets, consistent with the domestic bargaining footprint of contributing employers in the New Jersey mechanical service sector. The board of trustees, equally split between labor and management representatives, governs investment policy. The plan's administrative and investment operations are managed through I.E. Shaffer & Co., the fund administrator based in West Trenton. The site www.ieshaffer.com serves as the primary portal for participant communication and plan documents. No dedicated investment staff is publicly identified; governance rests with the joint board of trustees, a standard configuration for mid-sized Taft-Hartley plans where investment consulting firms and outsourced CIO arrangements handle day-to-day portfolio management. The plan's structural identity is rooted in its Taft-Hartley multiemployer architecture, which pools contributions from numerous small- to mid-sized mechanical contractors. This design isolates the pension promise from the credit risk of any single employer — a critical feature given the fragmented nature of the HVACR contracting industry. Governance parity between the UA local and signatory contractors shapes every asset allocation decision, with fiduciary duties jointly held under ERISA. Succession risk and funding ratio health are monitored through the plan's annual Form 5500 filings and actuarial valuation reports.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1968
AUM
$300M–$400M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
West Trenton
Corporate office
West Trenton, NJ, United States
Frequently asked questions
What is the governance structure of the Refrigeration, A/C & Service Div. (UA-NJ) Pension Plan?
The plan operates under a joint labor-management board of trustees, equally divided between representatives of the United Association Local and signatory mechanical service contractors. This Taft-Hartley structure ensures neither party unilaterally controls investment or benefit decisions. Trustees carry ERISA fiduciary duties and typically engage an investment consultant to recommend asset allocation and manager selection.
How does this plan relate to other United Association pension funds?
This plan is a local plan specific to UA members in the HVACR service division within New Jersey. It operates separately from the UA's national pension fund and other local union pension plans. Contribution rates, benefit formulas, and investment policies are determined by the local collective bargaining agreement and the plan's own trust documents, not by the international union.
What regulatory filings does this plan submit and where can an allocator review its funded status?
The plan files annual Form 5500 reports with the Department of Labor, which disclose asset values, contributions, benefit payments, and actuarial funding ratios. Allocators and researchers can access these filings through the DOL's EFAST public database. Funded status, discount rate assumptions, and investment lineups are detailed in the plan's actuarial valuation reports.
Is the plan open to new participants or is it in runoff?
As an active multiemployer plan with ongoing collective bargaining agreements and a current administrator, the plan likely remains open to new participants from contributing employers. The I.E. Shaffer & Co. portal continues to support active participant communication. Definitive confirmation requires the latest Form 5500 or Summary Plan Description.
What types of employers contribute to this pension plan?
Contributing employers are mechanical service contractors signatory to the collective bargaining agreement with the UA local covering New Jersey. These firms perform commercial and industrial HVACR installation, maintenance, and repair. Contribution obligations are typically expressed as cents-per-hour worked by covered employees and are remitted monthly to the fund.
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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