The International Association of Ironwokers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving employment opportunities, fair pay, health and welfare benefits, continuing education and other worker s rights for those employed in the iron working trade. The five categories of ironwork are structural, ornamental, reinforcing and post tensioning, rigging and machinery, welding and burning. Ironworkers perform a wide variety of other specialized work, which includes, but is not limited to, architectural and structural precast, amusement equipment and rides, bank vaults and doors, canopies, conveyors, doors - metal and roll-up, offshore drilling platforms, geodesic domes, detention facilities, metal buildings, overhead cranes, plant maintenance and towers. Founded in 1896 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization has local union offices throughout the United States.