© 2023 All rights reserved - UA Local 102
UA Local 102 Plumbers and Pipefitters
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The Plumbers and Pipefitters of UA Local 102 in Knoxville, Tennessee has enjoyed a rich history since receiving its charter over 100 years ago. The Local has withstood many ups and downs in the labor movement. For over 100 years and still today, Local 102 has taken pride in providing a retirement plan and healthcare for its membership. The membership continues to enjoy the 40 hour work week its forefathers fought to bring to the working class people.
Local 102’s standards for recruiting and training are very high. With a state of the art training facility and the continuous changes in the piping industry, members of Local 102 are able to enhance the skills needed to be the best in the industry. Through a collective bargaining agreement the Local works side by side with the contractors in order to preserve organized labor and to reach a common goal:
“To be the Best.”
Local 102 has continuously supported Tennessee in numerous ways ranging from chemical plants, power generation, hospitals and universities to name a few.
While the future is bright in the Knoxville area, the ongoing challenge of providing a skilled workforce for the contractors and their customers is priority one.
We, at Local 102 work very hard today in order to build a better tomorrow.
Earn while you learn is a unique technique that the United Association offers in their apprenticeship program. If earning a livable wage while learning skills in the piping industry is something you’re interested in.
There is no substitute for a UA trained craftsperson! The UA Training program has been producing qualified, effective and cost efficient workers for over one hundred years. No other organization serves the training needs of the piping industry like the United Association Training programs.
We in the United Association’s training programs have watched a transformation occur inside our ranks over the past forty years. The utilization of our training facilities coupled with the on-the-job training that takes place on each UA jobsite has produced both a stable and skilled workforce responsible for building and maintaining mechanical systems in the various industrial and residential facilities across the North American landscape.
No one can match our commitment or investment. The UA spends over $200 million annually on training efforts involving approximately 330,000 journeymen and apprentices in over 300 local training facilities at any given time
Through a partnership with contractors in the Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, Industrial Piping, Commercial HVAC Service and Residential Service, we established and fund the Joint Apprentice Training Trust. Apprentices are offered the industries best five year training program with over 10,000 hours of on the job training.
While many programs help military veterans succeed after completing their time in the service, graduates of the United Association Veterans in Piping Program find themselves ahead of the curve when they return to the civilian world.
Army Corporal and current UA Local 43 journeyman Jordan Caldwell expressed his thankfulness to the UA for all of the help they provide to active-duty transitioning military service members and their families.
“I learned a lot in the UA VIP Program,” Caldwell said. “It was great gaining entrance into an organization that helps soon-to-be veterans so much.”
The UA VIP Program is an 18-week Career Skills program, which helps active-duty transitioning military service members develop entry-level pipe trades skills while they finish out their service. The VIP Program is open to all active-duty transitioning military service members and is offered at seven installations throughout the U.S.
Now a journeyman UA member in Tennessee, Caldwell looked back on his time as a VIP student and had some encouraging words for those thinking about applying for the program.
“Come prepared to learn and work hard,” he said. “Good people create good organizations, which create good environments. It all starts with you.”
After completing the VIP Program and transitioning out of the military, Caldwell and his classmates were placed with a UA signatory contractor in an agreed upon location. VIP graduates are guaranteed employment with UA contractors.
Job placement was one of the major reasons the VIP Program stood out to Caldwell.
“Job placement was a huge difference,” he said. “I have done other programs and none have gotten me a job as fast.”
In addition to guaranteed job placement, VIP graduates gain direct entry into the five-year UA registered apprenticeship program. As apprentices, they earn a livable wage and learn on-the-job from experienced UA members. This on-the-job training is supplemented by additional classroom instruction throughout the duration of their apprenticeship.
As apprentices and later as journeymen, VIP graduates earn livable wages and great benefits such as full-family health insurance, a 401k plan and a pension.
© 2023 All rights reserved - UA Local 102