Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association
International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Plasterers & Cement Masons
Work Description
Cement masons pour and finish concrete surfaces, which include rodding, edging and joining. They finish street work, foundations and walls by forming, setting screeds, sawing joints, rubbing and patching.
Plasterers’ work involves wall preparation and finishing, acoustical plastering, texture finishing, plaster veneers and coatings.
Working Conditions
Physically demanding work involving stooping, lifting, and standing for long periods of time, indoors and outdoors. Manual dexterity is important.
Qualifications
- High school diploma, or GED
- 18 years old or high school graduate at age 17
- Physically capable of performing the trade
- Recommended high school courses: basic math, general science, drafting, blueprint reading, shop courses
Application Process
- Apply to Joint Apprenticeship Committee
- Submit high school transcript or GED
- Interview with Joint Apprenticeship Committee
- Present letter of introduction to prospective employers for an interview
Terms of Apprenticeship
- 3 years/4,000 hours of on-the-job training
- 360 of hours related classroom instruction (paid)
- First 6 months are probationary period
- Wage scale systematically increases throughout the apprenticeship
For More Information:
Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Local #599
8701 N. Lauer St., Milwaukee, WI 53224
Phone: 414-354-0599 Fax: 414-354-0598
Website: http://www.opcmia.org
Todd Gray, Business Manager
Email: opcmia204@sbcglobal.net
Matt Ganhs, Business Representative
Email: opcmia599.matt@gmail.com
Bart Swearingen, Business Representative
Email: opcmia599.bart@gmail.com
About OPCMIA
PRIDE, STRENGTH and UNITY!
For over 150 years the OPCMIA has represented and trained plasterers and cement masons for the purpose of protecting and promoting the quality of our industry and the livelihood of our members. Plaster and concrete are ageless building materials that will not fall out of favor as long as there is a sufficient amount of workers who are skilled in the arts of installation and finishing. These materials are as unforgiving as they are durable and beautiful. Skilled hands and competent management must work together to achieve the desired result and to promote and protect this vital construction resource. We dedicate ourselves to the promotion of these materials, the recruitment and training of skilled craftsmen to meet the demand of our industry, and hold ourselves responsible to this commitment for the future of our industry and the welfare of all those who earn their living in it.
OPCMIA
11720 Beltsville Drive, Suite 700
Beltsville, Maryland 20705
Email: opcmiaintl@opcmia.org
Telephone: (301) 623-1000
Fax: (301) 623-1032
Website: http://www.opcmia.org
Our Industry
The OPCMIA represents workers in two major segments of the construction industry, Plaster and Concrete. Both segments have multiple specialties fields and niche markets which are essential to maintaining the variety and quality of construction projects throughout North America. The following are examples of the various products and skill sets utilized by our journeymen and apprentice members.
Concrete
Concrete and its related products are all around you and are often taken for granted. It is the foundation of your home or office, it is used to make the sidewalks and roads that transport you, and it lends its strength and versatility to build dams and power plants to light your way. The following are but a few examples of the wide range of uses of concrete and the skilled OPCMIA members who place and finish this rock solid material. To see examples and learn more about each area click on the category listed below:
- COMMERCIAL
- CONCRETE REPAIR
- CURB AND GUTTER
- DECORATIVE CONCRETE
- FLATWORK CONCRETE
- HEAVY & HIGHWAY
- INDUSTRIAL
- RESIDENTIAL
Plaster
As durable as the ancient pyramids of Egypt, and as decorative as the Palace of Versailles; but plaster is not just an old fashioned product. Thousands of years after its refinement as a building material, plaster still provides durable interior and exterior walls, it decorates our shopping malls and amusement parks, and it provides fire resistance and durability in our offices and schools. The following are examples of the various plaster products and the skill sets of OPCMIA members that utilized in the walls and ceiling industry today. To see examples and learn more about each area click on the category listed below:
- EXTERIOR INSULATION FINISH SYSTEMS (EIFS)
- FIREPROOFING
- FREE FORM & THEME PLASTERING
- HISTORICAL RESTORATION
- INTERIOR GYPSUM PLASTER
- MOTION PICTURE & SPECIAL EFFECTS
- PORTLAND CEMENT PLASTER
- SPECIALTY & COLORED FINISHES
History
The Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association (OPCMIA) of the United States and Canada is a labor union that represents plasterers and cement masons in the construction industry in North America.
As the oldest Building and Construction Trades Union in the United States, the organization traces its roots back to 1864, during the American Civil War, when an organization known variously as the National Plasterer's Union or the National Plasterers Organization began to unify the various local craft unions that represented workers in the trade.
The new union endorsed the Eight hour day movement while pledging to avoid "unnecessary strikes" and instituted apprentice training and regulations. The union amended its constitution in 1887 to include Canadian workers. Reflecting the fact that its members did more than finish cement, the union changed its name in 1951 to the Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association.
Today, the OPCMIA continues to live by the principles upon which it was founded and which will continue to be its strength in the future. As it has been for over a century, the OPCMIA continues to be proud, strong and united.
