United Association history

From that convention until its affiliation with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1897, the union gained members & made modest strides toward developing some broad national standards by which to guide & govern its locals.

The Early 1900's At the turn of the century, early UA leaders faced new challenges and were forced to make numerous controversial and revolutionary decisions.

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.

Finally, the UA's future changed definitively when the AFL ordered the International Association of Steam & Hot Water Fitters to amalgamate with the UA in 1912, allowing the UA to absorb IA member locals.

Shortly after the UA's 1913 convention, at which General President Alpine declared the matter to be "practically disposed of," most of the IA steam fitters had been brought fully into the UA.

Steamfitters Local Union 464 was charted on April 3, 1915.

Landmark accomplishments included the creation of a formal five-year apprenticeship program, the expansion of UA influence to include construction of industrial plants and public utilities, and a growth in membership to 60,000 by the year 1929.

After several constitutional changes through the years, the 1946 convention changed the name of the organization to its present name: The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada.

In 2016 Mark McManus was unanimously elected General President at the 39th General convention.