WHAT IS THE U.A.?

U.A. is short for United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada. It’s a big name, but its a big organization representing over 300,000 pipe trades workers.. The United Association is the international union recognized by the AFL-CIO as having jurisdiction in the installation and service of plumbing, refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, fire sprinkler systems, marine pipefitting, gas fitting, pipe fabrication and assembly, manufacturing of mechanical parts and equipment, air and water balance, pneumatic and electric control work, and start up of all mechanical equipment to name a few.

The United Association got its start on October 11, 1889. On that date 40 delegates from 23 different locals, consisting of different pipe trades, gathered to form the U.A. They did this in recognition that they would have much more strength if they were unified in purpose to gain common goals and objectives. In being united in purpose the U.A. has been able to achieve job security, health and welfare benefits, a living wage, a safe working environment, and a comfortable pension. Almost all of the benefits and protections enjoyed by workers today are a result of the trade union movement.

The United Association is made up of the most skilled pipe tradesmen the construction industry has ever known. This has been done through the UA’s intense commitment to training. This top of the line, state of the art training includes a comprehensive apprenticeship system in which apprentices get both hands on training done in class and on the job, plus and journeymen review and upgrade program. The training includes all of the up to date technology that helps its members keep abreast of the latest innovations and changes, thereby insuring their skills are current and will be in demand.

There are over three hundred thousand members in the United Association that belong to over 500 local unions. Locals are in every state in America and every province in Canada. Members of the United Association work on all kinds of projects including single family residences, multi-family buildings, office buildings, hospitals, schools, airports, shipyards, fabrications shops, shopping centers, offshore oil rigs, refineries, power house, pipelines and utility plants.