United Association (UA) or the Plumbers and Pipefitters union (PPF) is a labor union that consists of approximately 355,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, welders, pipeliners, and others in the construction industry throughout North America. ^{1 2} UA is in partnership with several other organized labor groups including the AFL-CIO and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). ³

UA’s political action committee (PAC) raised $9,007,854 and spent $13,217,494 in 2020. ⁴ This spending included $3,190,199 against Republican candidates; $0 against Democratic candidates; $362,912 for Democratic candidates; and $99,200 for Republican candidates. ⁵ In 2019, UA spent $5,053,550 on political campaign activities ⁶ and made payments of $400,000 to the Edward Kennedy Institute; $300,000 to Priorities Action USA; $211,900 to the Democratic Governors Association (DGA); $200,000 to the Democratic Party of Georgia; $250,000 to Democratic Party-aligned House Majority PAC; and $100,000 to Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC. ⁷

In 2022, UA endorsed former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman and Obama administration Secretary of Labor Tom Perez (D) for governor in Maryland. ⁸ The union also endorsed the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden (D) in 2020 and Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016. ^{9 10 11}

Activities

The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (United Association, UA) is a labor union that consists of approximately 355,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, HCVACR service technicians, welders, and pipeliners working in the construction industry throughout North America. ^{12 13}

UA is comprised of approximately 274 local unions and 300 physical training location in the U.S. and Canada. ^{14 15} UA leadership opposes “right to work” legislation ¹⁶ and is in partnership with several other organized labor groups including the AFL-CIO, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the Mechanical Service Contractors Association of America (MSCAA), Plumbing Contractors Association, The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, Pipe Line Contractors Association, and National Fire Sprinkler Association. ¹⁷

UA operates the UA Charitable Fund Trust, which was established to provide aid to September 11, 2001, terrorist attack victims, but is now used to support UA members facing hardship. ^{18 19}

Battleground UA is UA’s dedicated department of legislative and political affairs. It has supported Biden administration legislative and political priorities. ^{20 21 22}

In the 2020 election cycle, UA’s political action committee (PAC) raised $9,007,854 and spent $13,217,494. ²³ This included $3,190,199 against Republican candidates; $362,912 for Democrats; $0 against Democratic candidates; and $99,200 for Republican candidates. ²⁴

Political Activities

In 2022, United Associates endorsed former Democratic National Committee Chairman and Obama administration Secretary of Labor Tom Perez (D) for governor in Maryland. ²⁵

In January 2021, UA criticized the Biden administration for terminating the permit of the Keystone XL pipeline, saying Biden decided to listen to “fringe activists” on the policy. ²⁶ The criticism came despite the union’s August 2020 endorsement of the presidential campaign of Joe Biden (D). ^{27 28}

In the 2020 election cycle, UA also aired television advertisements endorsing Biden’s energy and fracking policies ²⁹ and attacking President Trump, including one advertisement from the sprinkler fitters that said, “everything Trump touches catches on fire. Don’t let him burn our country down.” ³⁰

In 2019, UA spent $5,053,550 on political campaign activities. ³¹ In 2019, UA made payments of $500,000 to Rebuild USA; $400,000 to the Edward Kennedy Institute; $300,000 to Priorities Action USA; $300,000 to Defending Main Street; $250,000 to Democratic Party-aligned House Majority PAC; $211,900 to the Democratic Governors Association (DGA); $200,000 to the Democratic Party of Georgia; $100,000 to Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC; $100,000 to the Blue Green Alliance, $100,000 to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC); $100,000 to Fair Fight PAC; $100,000 to Forward Florida; $75,000 to Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party; $75,000 to Nevada Families First; $50,000 to the liberal Greater Wisconsin Committee; $50,000 to the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State; and $30,000 to the 21st Century Fund. ³²

UA endorsed the 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton (D). ³³

Funding

United Association receives its funding from program service revenues, including fees and “per capita tax” payments from constituent labor unions. ^{34 35}

In 2019, UA reported revenue of $117,133,784 and expenses of $95,978,186. In 2018, the union reported revenue of $110,699,820 and expenses of $83,357,879. ³⁶

Leadership

Mark McManus is the general president of the UA. ³⁷ In this role he is also an executive committee and executive council member of the AFL-CIO labor federation. ³⁸

1. “About the UA.” United Associates. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://ua.org/about-the-ua/.
2. “United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters Endorses Vice President Joe Biden for President.” United Associates. August 17, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/ua-endorses-joe-biden.
3. “Our Partners.” United Association. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://ua.org/about-the-ua/our-partners/.
4. “PAC Profile: Plumbers/Pipefitters Union.” Open Secrets. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/plumbers-pipefitters-union/C00012476/independent-expenditures/2020.
5. “Plumbers/Pipefitters Union Independent Expenditures.” Open Secrets. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/plumbers-pipefitters-union/C00012476/independent-expenditures/2020.
6. ^[1] “United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule C.  https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/530159020_201906_990O_2021060718278194.pdf.
7. “United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule C. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/530159020_201906_990O_2021060718278194.pdf.
8. ^[1] “United Association Endorses Tom Perez for Maryland Governor.” United Association. May 31, 2022. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/content/united-association-endorses-tom-perez-maryland-governor.
9.  “United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters Endorses Vice President Joe Biden for President.” United Associates. August 17, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/ua-endorses-joe-biden.
10. “Tweet.” Twitter. United Association. Posted August 17, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://twitter.com/UAPipeTrades/status/1295490141402861574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw.
11. “UA Endorses Hillary Clinton for President.” United Association. September 14, 2015. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/content/ua-endorses-hillary-clinton-president.
12. “About the UA.” United Associates. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://ua.org/about-the-ua/.
13. “United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters Endorses Vice President Joe Biden for President.” United Associates. August 17, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/ua-endorses-joe-biden.
14. Faloon, Kelly L. “For the Life of the Union Plumber.” Contractor. July 27, 2022. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.contractormag.com/training/article/21247521/for-the-life-of-the-union-plumber.
15. “Find a Local Union.” United Association. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://ua.org/join-the-ua/find-a-local-union/.
16. “UA Get Involved, a message from General President McManus.” United Association YouTube Channel. Posted September 19, 2018. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e00tDr4CR2k&list=PLjpan6D6UGCgiZNY8lJqPdad0V5UZQ0bZ&index=1.
17.  “Our Partners.” United Association. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://ua.org/about-the-ua/our-partners/.
18. ”United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/530159020_201906_990O_2021060718278194.pdf.
19. “UA Charitable Fund Trust.” United Associates. Accessed July 31, 2022. https://ua.org/about-the-ua/charitable-trust/.
20. “Tweet.” Twitter. July 27, 2022. Accessed July 31, 2022. https://twitter.com/battleground_ua/status/1552349186670006272?cxt=HHwWgMCo7YnXhosrAAAA.
21. “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.” United Association. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/content/infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act.
22. “Twitter Bio.” Twitter. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://twitter.com/battleground_ua?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3Abattleground_ua%7Ctwgr%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&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fuagetinvolved.org%2F.
23. “PAC Profile: Plumbers/Pipefitters Union.” Open Secrets. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/plumbers-pipefitters-union/C00012476/independent-expenditures/2020.
24. “Plumbers/Pipefitters Union Independent Expenditures.” Open Secrets. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/plumbers-pipefitters-union/C00012476/independent-expenditures/2020.
25. “United Association Endorses Tom Perez for Maryland Governor.” United Association. May 31, 2022. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/content/united-association-endorses-tom-perez-maryland-governor.
26. “Keystone XL Decision Will Raise Energy Costs for American Families.” United Associates. January 18, 2021. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/content/keystone-xl-decision-will-raise-energy-costs-american-families.
27.  “United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters Endorses Vice President Joe Biden for President.” United Associates. August 17, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/ua-endorses-joe-biden.
28. “Tweet.” Twitter. United Association. Posted August 17, 2020. Accessed July 28, 2022. https://twitter.com/UAPipeTrades/status/1295490141402861574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw.
29. “UA – “Fracking” – Joe Biden for President” United Association YouTube Channel. Posted September 24, 2020. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEGNaj6pCQI.
30. “UA – “Sprinklerfiters” – Joe Biden for President.” United Association YouTube Channel. Posted September 28, 2020. Accessed August. 1, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0kJe7hQcPU.
31. “United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule C.  https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/530159020_201906_990O_2021060718278194.pdf.
32. “United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule C. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/530159020_201906_990O_2021060718278194.pdf.
33. “UA Endorses Hillary Clinton for President.” United Association. September 14, 2015. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://www.uagetinvolved.org/content/ua-endorses-hillary-clinton-president.
34. “United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/530159020_201906_990O_2021060718278194.pdf.
35. Plumbers AFL-CIO National Headquarters (DOL File Number 000-111), Form LM-2 Labor Organization Annual Report, 2021, Statement B https://olmsapps.dol.gov/query/orgReport.do?rptId=782460&rptForm=LM2Form
36.  “United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/530159020_201906_990O_2021060718278194.pdf.
37. “Mark McManus.” United Associates. Accessed July 26, 2022. https://ua.org/about-the-ua/leadership-team/mark-mcmanus/.
38. “General President McManus’ Bio.” North America’s Building Trades Union. Accessed August 1, 2022. https://nabtu.org/general-president-mcmanus-bio/.