Pennsylvania Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters IFCA Fringe Benefits Bond
Overview
Carpenters covered under the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters collective bargaining agreements depend on this bond to ensure their fringe benefit contributions are made good. Pennsylvania contractors who employ union carpenters under an IFCA (Independent Fringe Contribution Agreement) arrangement must secure this bond before they can work under the agreement. It guarantees that health, pension, vacation, and other fringe benefit fund contributions owed to the Council's benefit funds are actually paid. If a contractor defaults, the bond makes those workers whole.
Who Needs This Bond?
Contractors and subcontractors who have signed an Independent Fringe Contribution Agreement with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters need this bond. This means any Pennsylvania carpentry or construction employer that hires union carpenters under the EASRCC's jurisdiction and is obligated to remit fringe benefit contributions to the Council's funds. If you've been told by the union hall or a labor relations representative that you need an IFCA Fringe Benefits Bond, you are the principal this bond covers. It applies statewide wherever EASRCC-represented work is performed in Pennsylvania.
What is this Bond For?
This bond secures a contractor's obligation to remit fringe benefit contributions — covering health insurance, pension, annuity, vacation, and similar funds — on behalf of union carpenters employed under the IFCA arrangement. The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters is the obligee, meaning the Council's benefit funds have the right to make a claim if contributions go unpaid. It is a financial guarantee, not an insurance policy — it holds the contractor accountable for every dollar owed to the funds. Workers do not lose earned benefits because a contractor fails to pay.
When is it Required?
Signing an Independent Fringe Contribution Agreement with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters is the moment this bond becomes mandatory. Before a contractor can operate under that agreement and deploy union carpenters on a job in Pennsylvania, the bond must already be in place and filed. The requirement is triggered by the IFCA itself — not by a government license or permit — so the Council enforces it directly as a condition of participation. Work cannot lawfully proceed under the agreement until the bond is secured.
Where Does it Apply?
This bond applies statewide throughout Pennsylvania wherever the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters has jurisdiction. It is not a municipal or county requirement — it follows the labor agreement, which covers EASRCC-organized carpentry work across the Commonwealth. Any job site in Pennsylvania where IFCA-covered carpenters are employed falls within the bond's protective scope.
How to Buy Online
Click the 'Buy This Bond Online' button on this page to open the secure surety portal in a new tab. Enter your business details and bond amount as specified by the EASRCC or your IFCA agreement, complete the application, and receive your bond documents. The process is fully online — no agent callback, no paper forms mailed back and forth.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is powered by The Southern Agency, giving you access to a nationwide surety bond catalog through a single, fast online platform. You get your EASRCC IFCA Fringe Benefits Bond without waiting on hold or chasing down a local agent. We built this process for contractors who need to get bonded quickly and get back to work.