History | WPAS, Inc.

1953

Health and Welfare Service was launched in Seattle, WA.

The delegates at the 1953 Convention of the State Federation of Labor (the original name of the Washington State Labor Council) were concerned over the handling of Union-negotiated fringe benefits. Across the nation, benefits of working people were being eaten up by high overhead administration costs. The Federation wanted to protect the workers' benefits by providing administration of benefits free from excessive fees and abuses, a consulting basis for affiliated Unions, and a model for private Administrators to follow.

The Federation delegates resolved that a non-profit health and welfare service be founded in 1953 to provide Unions and Employers with fair and impartial handling of negotiated benefits.

The Health and Welfare Service was launched in Seattle, Washington, in a one-room office in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Building, with extra space in the basement for data processing.

1959

Health and Welfare Service changed their name to Welfare and Pension Service.: WPAS original logo

To be more descriptive of the services rendered by our office, the name was changed from Health and Welfare Service to Welfare and Pension Service.

1964

WPAS moved to the Union Oil Building Annex.: Business growth subsequently created the need for larger office space, which the Union Oil Building Annex on Broad Street provided.

1971

WPAS incorporated.: WPAS changed non-profit status and incorporated. The WPAS name changed to Welfare & Pension Administration Service, Inc. (WPAS, Inc.).

1972

WPAS, Inc. expanded to Alaska with purchase of Labor Trust Services (LTS).: A meeting of the Alaska Laborers' Trust, one of the first Trusts handled in Alaska.

When a number of Trusts in Alaska needed administration services, WPAS, Inc. purchased Labor Trust Services (LTS) in Anchorage, Alaska. LTS later served benefit recipients working on the Alaska Pipeline.

1974

WPAS, Inc. continued to grow and built a new building.: The company continued to grow, so WPAS, Inc. purchased land and built the First and Cedar building.

1976

WPAS, Inc. added Claims Department.: WPAS, Inc. added a Claims Department to provide additional services to our clients.

Construction of the Bay Vista Building began.: Architect's drawing of the Bay Vista Building

With continued growth, WPAS, Inc. sold the First & Cedar Building and began construction of a new building at Second Avenue and Broad Street in Belltown.

1985

WPAS, Inc. sold the Bay Vista Building.: WPAS, Inc. sold the Bay Vista Building and relocated to the Elliot Park Building.

1987

WPAS, Inc. was sold to new owners.: The Washington State Labor Council decided to sell WPAS, Inc. WPAS, Inc. was sold to a Board of Directors.

1992

WPAS, Inc. returned to the Bay Vista Building.: WPAS, Inc. returned to their current location, the Bay Vista Building at 2815 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

2000

WPAS, Inc. opened a California office.: San Jose, California office

WPAS, Inc. opened an office in San Jose, California, to service the South Bay HERE Trust.

2001

WPAS, Inc. started a new company, CleanWorkforce.: Clean Work Force logo

WPAS, Inc. entered a new field and opened an online drug testing Administration Company named CleanWorkforce. CleanWorkforce provides administrative services to multi-employer Substance Abuse Programs covering five trades.

2005

WPAS, Inc. opened an Oregon office.: Gladstone, Oregon office

WPAS, Inc. opened an Oregon office at 15 82nd Drive, Gladstone, Oregon.

2011

LTS Office moved to a new location.: LTS office

To expand services for clients and members, LTS moved to a new location.

Present

Today WPAS, Inc. has over 170 employees ...: Today WPAS, Inc. has over 170 employees in our offices in Seattle, Anchorage, Gladstone and San Jose. We administer over 82 plans with total assets in excess of five billion dollars, which provide benefits to more than 150,000 participants.

History of Company