Surety Bond Encyclopedia

Fringe Benefits Bond - District Council 57 Painters Union Local No. 6 in Pennsylvania

Brief Summary

If you are signing with the painters in Western Pennsylvania, the agreement is with IUPAT District Council 57, not with Local 6 alone, and the bond has to be written to match. A surety bond guarantees your fringe benefit contributions for a premium, so you are not parking a cash deposit with the union while you are trying to get crews on the job.

The Fringe Benefits bond for District Council 57 Painters Union Local No. 6 guarantees that a contractor working under a collective bargaining agreement with IUPAT District Council 57 will pay the fringe benefit contributions it owes for covered work. Local 6 is one of the eight local unions that combined into DC 57 in 1999. Get the required amount and the exact obligee wording from DC 57 in Carnegie, PA before the bond is issued.

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How to Apply for a Fringe Benefits Bond:

Contact DC 57 at 412-276-5758 to confirm the bond amount and required form for your agreement.
Confirm the exact obligee name, the district council, the benefit funds or both.
Complete the bond application in the contractor's exact legal name as it appears on the signed agreement.
Pay the premium and deliver the executed bond to DC 57 before work begins.
Set up contribution reporting with the IUPAT of Western Pennsylvania Combined Funds.

Detailed Information About the Pennsylvania Fringe Benefits Bond:

Local 6 works through District Council 57

IUPAT District Council 57 was formed in 1999 when Local Unions 6, 409, 530, 751, 2006, 479, 549 and 1968 combined into one council. DC 57 represents painters, wallcoverers, drywall finishers, glaziers and related finishing trades in Western Pennsylvania from 101 Ewing Road, Carnegie, PA 15106. Contractors sign agreements with the district council, and DC 57 has an areawide painters agreement and a separate drywall agreement. A bond written only to Local 6 may not match what the council asks for, so confirm the obligee name before the bond is executed.

What the bond guarantees

A signatory contractor owes contributions to the members' benefit funds for each covered hour of work. This bond guarantees those payments. If the contractor falls behind, the obligee can make a claim, the surety pays valid amounts up to the bond limit, and the contractor must repay the surety. The bond does not replace the contributions themselves.

Where the contributions go

According to DC 57, the IUPAT of Western Pennsylvania Combined Funds became its third party benefits administrator on June 1, 2026, handling the healthcare, WRA and annuity funds. The Combined Funds can be reached at (412) 276-6740. Questions about remittance belong there. Questions about becoming signatory and the bond requirement go to the DC 57 office at 412-276-5758.

Amount and form

The bond amount and form are set by DC 57 and the agreement you sign. Ask the council for the current amount and any required bond form, and confirm whether the benefit fund trustees should be named alongside the union before the bond is issued.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Pennsylvania Fringe Benefits Bond:

Obligee wording that matches what IUPAT District Council 57 requires.
Bond amount set by DC 57 or the collective bargaining agreement.
Principal name matching the signatory contractor exactly.
Owner credit and financial review by the surety.
Bond kept in force for as long as the agreement requires.

Pennsylvania Fringe Benefits Bond FAQs:

Is this bond with Local 6 or District Council 57?

Local 6 is one of the eight locals that combined into IUPAT District Council 57 in 1999, and DC 57 negotiates the areawide agreements. Confirm with DC 57 how the obligee should read before the bond is executed.

How much is the bond?

DC 57 and the agreement you sign set the amount. Call the DC 57 office at 412-276-5758 for the current figure before ordering the bond.

Who handles benefit contributions now?

DC 57 reports that the IUPAT of Western Pennsylvania Combined Funds took over as third party benefits administrator on June 1, 2026, handling the healthcare, WRA and annuity funds. Their number is (412) 276-6740.

What happens if a claim is made?

If contributions go unpaid, the obligee can claim against the bond. The surety pays valid claims up to the bond amount and then recovers that money from the contractor under the indemnity agreement.

What does the bond cost?

The premium is based on the bond amount and the surety's review of the owner's credit and the company's financial condition. Stronger credit and financials earn a lower rate.