New electrical trades maternity benefit sets nationwide standard

In January 2020, a new Maternity Benefit Plan went into effect that was made available by IBEW Local 48 in partnership with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the Harrison Electrical Workers Trust Fund. To our knowledge, this is the first of its kind in the nation. Since the plan went into effect at the beginning of 2020, 25 individuals have utilized this benefit.

Designed with a goal to retain women in the workforce, the plan offers 13 weeks of paid leave before a doctor-certified due date and 13 weeks after, doubling the previous maternity leave offering. Members receive $800 a week in time loss benefits in addition to Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits. The trust also pays health insurance premiums, which means recipients get free health coverage for their entire family.

Read more at the Portland Business Journal.