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]