United Association
Union Plumbers, Steamfitters, Welders
& HVAC/R Service Technicians
STEAMFITTERS
Working Conditions
Construction steamfitters work inside and outside, sometimes in adverse weather conditions. The work is active and strenuous requiring walking, standing, climbing, lifting and working in cramped or high areas. Some local travel and long-distance travel opportunities may be required.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or HSED
- 18 years old or high school graduate at 17
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Physically capable to perform job requirements
State of Wisconsin Apprenticeship Application Process
- Apply to Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC)
- Complete State of WI Apprenticeship Application
- Meet State Guideline Minimum Testing Requirements (Accuplacer or ACT)
- Submit a Copy of Valid Driver's License
- Submit a Copy of High School Transcripts or Equivalent
- Upon Application Submission, Letter of Introduction Granted by JAC to Confirm State of WI Apprenticeship Eligibility
- Secure Employment with a Union Signatory Contractor
- Contractor Required for Sponsorship of Apprenticeship
Terms of Apprenticeship
- 5 year program
- 8,000+ hours on-the-job training
- 528+ hours of day school (paid related classroom instruction)
- 300+ hours of night school (unpaid)
- Journeyperson written and practical examinations
- Wage scale systematically increases throughout the apprenticeship
FABRICATOR
Pipe Fabricators read and interpret blueprints or product specification instructions to fabricate and assemble pipe products. Daily tasks may include fitting pipe to isometric spool drawings; welding pipe according to code using numerous processes such as MIG, TIG, Flux Core, Stick and More; performing x-ray quality welds; passing weld qualification tests; following quality control procedure to ensure fabricated pipe meets company and customer specification. Fabricators are required to follow safety protocol concerning equipment use, material handling, and working conditions.
HVAC/R SERVICE TECHNICIAN
Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Service Technicians maintain, warranty, and diagnose/repair heating and cooling systems. Daily tasks may include performing preventative maintenance by cleaning, calibrating, adjusting, monitoring, and repairing HVAC systems; examine, locate, diagnose, isolate, and troubleshoot HVAC system errors; conduct emergency service to make rapid repairs to customer HVAC systems; repair and replace defective parts in HVAC units, equipment and their controls (switches, fan controls, damper motors, louvers, filters, controls, belts, compressors, heat exchangers, pressure controls, safety valves, and more). This work is often performed in schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, etc. Service Technicians are required to follow safety protocol concerning equipment use, material handling, and working conditions.
STEAMFITTER
Steamfitters fabricate, install, maintain, and repair piping systems. Daily tasks may include rigging, setting, and supporting piping related equipment, valves, and fittings; brazing; soldering; pressure testing systems for leaks; fusions and mechanical joining of pipes, threading pipe; welding pipe using processes such as MIG, TIG, Flux Core, Stick and more. This work is often performed in schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, chemical plants, power plants, wastewater plants, etc. The pipes in these facilities are often under high pressure with steam, chemicals, compressed air, liquids, fuel and more requiring a Steamfitters expertise for installation and repair. Steamfitters are required to follow safety protocol concerning equipment use, material handling, and working conditions.
Watch the video below on: The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada and Australia (UA), affiliated with the national building trades, represents approximately 370,000 plumbers, pipe fitters, sprinkler fitters, service technicians and welders in North America and Australia..
Completion of apprenticeship can lead to other careers in the piping industry:
- Project Manager
- Estimator
- Welding Inspector
- Construction Engineer
- Union Official
- Superintendent
- Business Owner
- Teacher
- Municipal Inspectors
As you can see by this list there are many opportunities to further advance a career in the piping industry. Training through an Apprenticeship can go a long way towards making a good living here in Northeast Wisconsin Building Trades Region. Northeastern Wisconsin - Local 400 (18 Counties)
WPTA Jurisdiction Map - UA Local 400
Find information on our website: www.ua400.org or contact:
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local #400
Physical Address: 2700 Northridge Drive, Kaukauna, WI 54130
Mailing Address: PO Box 530, Kaukauna, WI 54130-1530
Phone: 920-462-0400
Doug Dokey, Business Manager Email: doug@ua400.org
Mike Augustian, Business Agent Email: mike@ua400.org
Dustin Delsman, Business Agent Email: dustin@ua400.org
Rob Kosky, Business Agent Email: rob@ua400.org
Travis Martin, Business Agent Email: travis@ua400.org
Scott Krejcarek, Training Coordinator
PO Box 530, Kaukauna, WI 54130-0530
Phone: 920-462-0407
Email: skrejcarkek@400jatc.org
DJ Kloida, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator
Phone: 920-462-0412
Email: djkloida @ua400.org
The United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, & Service Techs
The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada and Australia (UA), affiliated with the national building trades, represents approximately 370,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, service technicians and welders in Local Unions across North America and Australia.
The UA has been training qualified pipe tradesmen and women longer than anyone else in the industry. We provide the premier training programs available in the industry today, including five-year apprenticeship programs, extensive journeyman training, a comprehensive, five-year instructor training program, and numerous certification programs. We help our signatory contractors grow their market share by identifying new opportunities, providing support and connecting them to the safest, most skilled and most highly trained workforce in the industry.
The United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, & Service Techs
Three Park Place
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Telephone: (410) 269-2000
Fax: (410) 267-0382
Website: http://www.ua.org
History
The birth of the United Association dates back to the year 1889, when a Boston plumber named P. J. Quinlan addressed a brief letter to Richard A. O'Brien, a plumber in Washington, D.C. "Dear Sir and Brother," the letter began, "I take the liberty of addressing a few lines to you to obtain your views as regards the formation of a United Brotherhood…"
The author of the letter would become the first General President and its recipient the first General Secretary-Treasurer of the United Association.
THE EARLY 1900'S
Prior to 1889, plumbers, steamfitters and gas fitters who were organized were members of independent local unions with either no affiliation, or affiliation with a variety of trades.
By 1889, however, with existing organizations declining or becoming devoted to only one craft, local union leaders began to consider other ways to unite national pipe trades journeymen to deal with mutual problems, including how to treat traveling members, build apprenticeship, and provide strike aid.
In response to these issues, the United Association was officially born on October 11, 1889. The original name of the organization was the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters and Steam Fitters' Helpers of the United States and Canada.
At the turn of the century, early UA leaders faced new challenges and were forced to make numerous controversial and revolutionary decisions. Among these was establishment of a mechanism that would allow UA members to travel to jobs throughout the United States and Canada. The clearance card system was created to enable unemployed journeymen in one locality to travel to work in another.
This "mobility" became especially important during the early 1900's, when the construction industry entered a period of tremendous expansion. From 1898 to 1914, the UA quadruped its membership.
During these years, under the leadership of General President John S. Kelley, steps were taken to strengthen the UA on a national basis. One of those was establishment of the stamp system of dues collection. This move dramatically improved the UA's financial stability and provided a means of compiling a reliable list of affiliated local unions and their membership.
Significant progress toward a sound, modern union came in 1902 in Omaha, Nebraska, when delegates to the UA convention approved a plan to provide a comprehensive system of sick, death and strike benefits.
The UA's nationalization efforts were further strengthened during the general presidency of John R. Alpine from 1906 to 1919. His term in office was marked by extraordinary executive skills that resulted in the implementation of many important reforms and changes in an atmosphere of harmony.
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
In 1929, the stock market crashed, and thousands of banks failed. In Canada and the United States, hard times fell on UA families. The Great Depression sank our two nations into despair, as unemployment soared, families suffered immeasurably, and there seemed little hope on the horizon. Several issues of the UA Journal at that time offered advice on how members could make their wages go as far as possible, such as growing their own food in their own gardens, but much of the focus was either on calling for our two governments to take action to help the people, or on trying to offer some kind of hope and encouragement to our membership.
In Canada, as in the U.S., construction all but stopped, and this led to a significant decline in manufacturing. The economies of both nations spiraled ever downward, until unemployment reached extremely high numbers and workers began to give up altogether.
Even as life became evermore grim, UA members discovered ways to survive—from job sharing to supporting one another through donations from those who could find work. While membership declined, and no conventions were held between 1928 and 1938, the UA held it together. At the 20th Annual Convention, the General Executive Board report concluded: “There is no human institution that can record men so willing to suffer and sacrifice for each other and for principle that you can find in the labor movement. There is no higher nor nobler exemplification of supreme duty to our fellow men than to be willing to always be ready to accept cheerfully the great sacrifice and suffering … in order to help one another … It shows very clearly that our members are very conscious of the nobility of their position as workers and of their great worth to society.” This attitude certainly reflected that of the membership during these dark times.
At last, with the New Deal under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, members began to go back to work—and regain their pride. UA members helped build schools, libraries, public buildings and housing projects under the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration. Their work stands today as a lasting monument to their remarkable skills—projects like Hoover and Grand Coulee Dams, and the dams of the Tennessee River Valley that brought electricity to millions in rural areas.
However, in Canada, the government’s response was not so successful. Organized work camps were set up where unemployed men were put to work building roads and other public works for very little pay. The poor conditions in these work camps led to protests and strikes. Hundreds of workers boarded boxcars headed to Ottawa to demand reform from the federal government. This became known as the “On to Ottawa” trek, but it was blocked before it could reach the city. Eventually, a new Canadian government initiated a relief program similar to FDR’s but not as successful, although the economy there did eventually begin a slow but painful recovery. However, it would take the outbreak of World War II for the economy in Canada to truly become strong again.
WORLD WAR II
By 1941, UA membership had reached 81,000. That number soared to 210,000 during World War II. Thousands of UA members enlisted in the armed forces and served bravely in conflicts all over the world. Back home, UA members were put to work in shipyards, weapons plants, aircraft factories and other facilities. Some members also served in military construction units overseas.
During these years, the UA grew in both membership and prestige. Wartime construction contributed to this rise, but other events also enhanced the strength of the UA. One of those was the development of national agreements between the UA and large, national contractors. The landmark UA-NCA (National Constructors Association) National Construction Agreement was signed in 1941.
The post-war years were also marked by the rise of one of organized labor's most prominent leaders -- George Meany, the first president of the newly formed merger of the two principal labor organizations (the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations) into the AFL-CIO. A plain-spoken man of great courage and dignity, he was perhaps the most influential figure in shaping the American labor movement from the mid-1950's until his death in 1980. George Meany was also a proud member of United Association Local 2 in New York City.
The ties between the UA and the AFL-CIO have always been strong. The UA became an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor in 1897, and the United Association General Office in Washington, D.C. was originally built by Samuel Gompers in 1915-16 to serve as AFL headquarters. Today, the UA is one of the strongest forces within the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.
A NEW MILLENNIUM OF PRIDE
From humble beginnings of 40 delegates representing 23 independent unions in 10 states and the District of Columbia, the United Association has grown to a powerful, international union representing over 370,000 members in more than 300 local unions throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. This October, we will proudly celebrate our 125th anniversary.
The UA remains a strong, vital organization comprised of thousands of highly skilled men and women who have joined together for a common purpose.
