r/UnitedAssociation • • Jun 12 '25

Discussion to improve our brotherhood ❗ Union Pay Scales Yearly Update Request

53 Upvotes

Hey everyone — hope you're all staying safe and busy out there.

For those who don’t know me, I run UnionPayScales.com — a free, crowdsourced platform that tracks wages and benefits for thousands of union locals across 16 trades. I got a lot of early support from this community when I first launched, and I just want to say thank you again — it really helped get the site off the ground.

We do our best to keep things updated, but some locals are still missing or out of date. That’s why I’ll be posting here once a year — with mod approval — to ask for your help keeping things accurate.

👉 What You Can Do (takes 30 seconds):

  1. Visit UnionPayScales.com
  2. Choose your trade (Plumbers, Pipefitters, HVAC, Sprinklerfitters, etc.)
  3. Find your local and check the wage info
  4. If anything is missing or outdated, scroll to the bottom of the page (or just click here) to submit a wage update.

You’ll also have the option to sign up for a once-a-year email reminder — no spam, just a quick nudge to help keep this project accurate and useful for everyone. We just sent this out this week, so you won't get any emails from us until next june.

👉 Sign up here if you'd like to be notified

Thanks again for supporting this project — it only works because of people like you. If you guys have any feedback on the site, please let me know!


r/UnitedAssociation • • Dec 12 '23

Discussion to improve our brotherhood The idea of the union

53 Upvotes

https://www.reddit.com/r/IBEW/s/MkvzAGc0Ev

I saw the linked post on the IBEW sub and thought it was a good talking point for discussion on what the union is and how it works for us.

It is not the union’s job to keep us employed. The union’s job is to protect us while employed and to guarantee us the best quality of life while employed. By joining, we are agreeing to “collectively” withhold our labor from those who would exploit us.

Is it hard to go through times with low employment? Absolutely. It has been done before though and can be survived. It is important for us to be responsible when times are good so that we can be prepared for hard times. If we are not, then we become weak and pliable to the demands of the financial class. Our forefathers fought for better and they deserve the respect of a continued legacy.

For the new generation, if you’re working 40 hour weeks, find a way to live on 30 and lay back the 10. If you’re on 50, live on 35. Etc. Once you’ve worked for a while, you should have 6 months living expenses liquid to get you through hard times, combine that with unemployment and your income good shape for a long haul. Don’t be the guy that buys a $60k truck two weeks into a call. I’ve known guys to catch a layoff weeks after doing that.

Protect what was worked for on your behalf. Have a backup plan for your backup plan. Vote in a way that protects your local. Get involved in the hall and make a name for yourself with your reputation and work ethic. Provide 8 hours QUALITY work for 8 hours pay, not 9 and not 7. Your reputation in the hall becomes the hall’s reputation with the local contractors and that leads to market share. More market share is more work.

This turned into a bit of a rant, but I trust you see the point. Journeymen, feel free to add your opinions as well.


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1h ago

Joining the UA Fort Campbell VIP

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• Upvotes

r/UnitedAssociation • • 3h ago

Discussion to improve our brotherhood Best route after becoming a Journeyman

3 Upvotes

Hello everybody, I recently just became a journeyman out of a combo local in Ca. I just wanted to see what you guys did to go further in the trade after becoming a journeyman. Is there a specific route like detailing, instrumentation, or other aspects of the trade that you would suggest? And how did you go about learning all of it while still working? Thanks in advance.


r/UnitedAssociation • • 4h ago

Apprenticeship Starting as early as next week, super excited, tips for an incoming green apprentice? Iʻve read many, but Iʻd love to hear ʻem all again!

2 Upvotes

HVAC - Was told I will be going into maintenance with a company that also does BAS


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1h ago

Apprenticeship UA local 412

• Upvotes

Does anyone know much about this union are they busy consistently i seen they have like 70 apprentice on the out of work list which seemed pretty insane any information will be appreciated thank you


r/UnitedAssociation • • 10h ago

Possible Upcoming Work Need help.

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3 Upvotes

r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Joining the UA Body shape/weight as an Apprentice

14 Upvotes

I am wanting to enter the trades. 32, F and BBW; the trades I am specifically torn between are UA Plumber or IUOE operator. I completely understand that being in the trades is physically demanding but realistically how big is too big? I have started eating a calorie deficit which is actually going well. Just looking for honest/blunt feedback!


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Discussion to improve our brotherhood What is up with per diem?

10 Upvotes

Pay me my goddamn GSA per diem. No I’m not interested in corporate lodging expense coverage. Give me my TAX FREE per diem (yes ik if within 1 year) and let me keep the rest of it:

Contractors are pocketing the per diem


r/UnitedAssociation • • 16h ago

Apprenticeship ISO - NFPA Mn Journeyman Exal study app testers

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1 Upvotes

r/UnitedAssociation • • 18h ago

Apprenticeship Local 11 Union

1 Upvotes

Hi guys how’s the books looking for the past September bootcamp ? Have you guys been dispatched? And what program are you guys in?


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Looking for work. need hands in washington state?

3 Upvotes

I work in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi as a chemical and gas Pipefitter. Does local 26 need hands and how often do they bring people in


r/UnitedAssociation • • 21h ago

Apprenticeship LOCAL 533 Help!

1 Upvotes

I’m applying and have been sending my resume to contractors daily. I have 6 months of pure data center pipefitter for ua469 but they aren’t taking anyone in for another year or so (have been waiting 2 already) experience and am still pretty green but know my way around data centers pretty well. I have osha10/30 as well. I was wondering if I should try to get in as a pre apprentice instead of apprentice because my experience is lackluster.

My main question here is do you guys often see pre apprentices get bumped up ever?


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Apprenticeship Why UA over the other unions

6 Upvotes

In my state ironworking has the best benefits but pipe fitting has the higher pay why is the UA the better option because I have a interview set up with the UA this December I just need more confirmation that the switch I’m doing is the better choice


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Joining the UA 690 Philly

1 Upvotes

Curious on wage rates for local 690 year 1 - foreman commercial plumber. Ty


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Apprenticeship I got my ranking at 85 at local 3

1 Upvotes

But I have no idea if that’s way far down the list or mid range or what? I called and asked to get an idea but was told they can’t disclose how many people are on the list. Does anyone have any insights or experience so I can get a better understanding? Thank you!


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Joining the UA Questions from interviews

2 Upvotes

I have a interview coming up for the UA in my state and I’m wondering what type of questions should I be ready for


r/UnitedAssociation • • 1d ago

Apprenticeship UA CASE KNIFE

1 Upvotes

Anyone willing to sell a UA Case knife? They were given out at my local as apprentice competition awards. If so PM me.


r/UnitedAssociation • • 2d ago

Discussion to improve our brotherhood Buying books?

23 Upvotes

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To give a little background upon myself, ive been in for 14 years and served an apprenticeship . Ive traveled for the past 9 years or so and have never been laid off do to anything but the job ending. Im not the best pipefitter/welder in the world but i know my trade and take pride in my work and can hang with the best of them

With that being said, i have seen an increase in book buyers that lack the basics that a 1st year would know. Some guys literally cant read a tape measure, let alone a print.

My question is why are halls selling books to guys without them first demonstrating a basic level of competency only to send them on the road and make them someone elses problem. Seems to me the UA standard of excellence doesnt really hold much water.


r/UnitedAssociation • • 2d ago

Apprenticeship Plumber to pipefitter advice

2 Upvotes

I’m currently a Canadian jman plumber with Ua 324 and was curious if anyone had any advice on this. So I have two options if I wanna transfer into pipfitting. 1 - I transfer into being a pipefitter starting off as a 2 year that goes the traditional route like getting your yearly hours then going to school or option #2 is I challenge the apprenticeship with no technical schooling but still needing 4900 hours and still getting 90% of my jman wage while getting my hours but then doing the UA challenge program for pipefitting. I’m curious if anyone has been in this situation I’m in currently and if you have any advice I’d appreciate it

Thanks


r/UnitedAssociation • • 2d ago

Apprenticeship Local 393 waitlist conditions

1 Upvotes

Hello! I am currently in the process of applying as an HVAC apprentice through local 393. I noticed online that when on the waitlist, it is required to get a sponsored job in the meantime. Here are the exact words on the website: “the waitlist is valid for 2 years and within that time frame applicants must solicit work and gain sponsorship from a 393 signatory contractor to start the apprenticeship”. Is this true? I already have a job i would prefer to stay at. I would really appreciate any thoughts. Thank you in advance!


r/UnitedAssociation • • 2d ago

Apprenticeship 14 days into big commercial job site as 1st year green plumber apprentice

11 Upvotes

This is my first ever construction/ plumbing job. We are at a big C3 construction site. My first 3 days was basically doing grunt work like flagging for a coworker driving the lull, installing wheels on joboxes, assembling utility carts for the crew, and installing pipe sleeves. Second week was more flagging, more installing wheels. I also was making hole covers for holes in the ground on the 3rd floor. is this pretty normal bc it feels like I’m doing a lot of grunt work ( which I know I am suppose to be doing since I’m an apprentice) while there are other 1st year apprentices too but they are with journeymen.


r/UnitedAssociation • • 2d ago

Looking for work. Local 296 Job Calls

1 Upvotes

How’s the job calls in local 296 out of boise looking it’s not public so i was wondering if someone could tell me.


r/UnitedAssociation • • 2d ago

Joining the UA UA

0 Upvotes

What kept you from leaving the UA during the apprenticeship and the years following


r/UnitedAssociation • • 2d ago

Apprenticeship Need advice

2 Upvotes

I’m a 1st year app in 211. I’m currently at a job that has nothing to do with hvac or pipefitting. I’ve been told that I could be here my entire apprenticeship. What should I do? I don’t want to be a useless journeymen with no knowledge of the trade.