PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION 178

What PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION 178 does

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 178 (UA Local 178) is a private labor union headquartered at 2221 North Alliance Avenue, Springfield, Missouri, representing more than 400 union-trained plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, refrigeration fitters, and service technicians across the state of Missouri. It is a local chapter of the United Association (UA) of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, a 100+ year-old international organization based in Annapolis, Maryland that spends over $100 million annually on training. Local 178 operates a five-year registered apprenticeship program (minimum 1,700 on-the-job training hours and 224 classroom hours per year) and 25+ journeyman certification courses covering Backflow Prevention, Medical Gas, HVAC, Welding, and Code Interpretation, with approximately $225,000 invested annually in local training.

The union's core products are four interrelated services: (1) union membership providing access to negotiated wages, benefits, and career pathways; (2) the five-year apprenticeship training program; (3) journeyman continuing education and certification; and (4) job placement services that dispatch members to signatory contractors. Members are placed with a network of 30+ signatory contractor companies — including Johnson Controls, U.S. Engineering Co., Connelly Waldinger, Wagner-Meinert, P1 Group, and 4-States Mechanical — for residential, commercial, and industrial piping projects across Missouri.

Local 178's revenue model is subscription-style, funded by member dues and employer hourly contributions for benefits. Total commercial journeyman compensation is $58.47/hr ($42.30 wages + $16.17 benefits), with the benefits line funding a self-administered health insurance program and two pension funds (National Pension at varying rates plus a Local 178 Pension of $3.40/hr commercial, $2.30/hr residential, $1.55/hr HVAC installer). The union's value proposition is a roughly $18/hr total compensation premium over non-union peers ($8.32/hr in wages plus $9.70/hr in fringe benefits), and a defined career ladder from Apprentice through Journey Worker, Foreman/Superintendent, Project Manager, and Independent Contractor/Owner. Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 178 (UA Local 178) is a private labor union headquartered at 2221 North Alliance Avenue, Springfield, Missouri, representing more than 400 union-trained plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, refrigeration fitters, and service technicians across the state of Missouri. It is a local chapter of the United Association (UA) of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, a 100+ year-old international organization based in Annapolis, Maryland that spends over $100 million annually on training. Local 178 operates a five-year registered apprenticeship program (minimum 1,700 on-the-job training hours and 224 classroom hours per year) and 25+ journeyman certification courses covering Backflow Prevention, Medical Gas, HVAC, Welding, and Code Interpretation, with approximately $225,000 invested annually in local training.

The union's core products are four interrelated services: (1) union membership providing access to negotiated wages, benefits, and career pathways; (2) the five-year apprenticeship training program; (3) journeyman continuing education and certification; and (4) job placement services that dispatch members to signatory contractors. Members are placed with a network of 30+ signatory contractor companies — including Johnson Controls, U.S. Engineering Co., Connelly Waldinger, Wagner-Meinert, P1 Group, and 4-States Mechanical — for residential, commercial, and industrial piping projects across Missouri.

Local 178's revenue model is subscription-style, funded by member dues and employer hourly contributions for benefits. Total commercial journeyman compensation is $58.47/hr ($42.30 wages + $16.17 benefits), with the benefits line funding a self-administered health insurance program and two pension funds (National Pension at varying rates plus a Local 178 Pension of $3.40/hr commercial, $2.30/hr residential, $1.55/hr HVAC installer). The union's value proposition is a roughly $18/hr total compensation premium over non-union peers ($8.32/hr in wages plus $9.70/hr in fringe benefits), and a defined career ladder from Apprentice through Journey Worker, Foreman/Superintendent, Project Manager, and Independent Contractor/Owner. Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 178 (UA Local 178) is a private labor union headquartered at 2221 North Alliance Avenue, Springfield, Missouri, representing more than 400 union-trained plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, refrigeration fitters, and service technicians across the state of Missouri. It is a local chapter of the United Association (UA) of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, a 100+ year-old international organization based in Annapolis, Maryland that spends over $100 million annually on training. Local 178 operates a five-year registered apprenticeship program (minimum 1,700 on-the-job training hours and 224 classroom hours per year) and 25+ journeyman certification courses covering Backflow Prevention, Medical Gas, HVAC, Welding, and Code Interpretation, with approximately $225,000 invested annually in local training.

The union's core products are four interrelated services: (1) union membership providing access to negotiated wages, benefits, and career pathways; (2) the five-year apprenticeship training program; (3) journeyman continuing education and certification; and (4) job placement services that dispatch members to signatory contractors. Members are placed with a network of 30+ signatory contractor companies — including Johnson Controls, U.S. Engineering Co., Connelly Waldinger, Wagner-Meinert, P1 Group, and 4-States Mechanical — for residential, commercial, and industrial piping projects across Missouri.

Local 178's revenue model is subscription-style, funded by member dues and employer hourly contributions for benefits. Total commercial journeyman compensation is $58.47/hr ($42.30 wages + $16.17 benefits), with the benefits line funding a self-administered health insurance program and two pension funds (National Pension at varying rates plus a Local 178 Pension of $3.40/hr commercial, $2.30/hr residential, $1.55/hr HVAC installer). The union's value proposition is a roughly $18/hr total compensation premium over non-union peers ($8.32/hr in wages plus $9.70/hr in fringe benefits), and a defined career ladder from Apprentice through Journey Worker, Foreman/Superintendent, Project Manager, and Independent Contractor/Owner.

Name

PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION 178

Legal name

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 178

Website

https://ua178.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 178 (UA Local 178) is a Missouri labor union representing 400+ trained plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, and HVAC technicians, providing apprenticeship, journeyman certification, and job placement through 30+ signatory contractors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Plumbing & Pipefitting Contracting (IMAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pipefitting & Steamfitting (EDAOACAB), Mechanical Piping & Pipefitting (Process/Utility Piping, Supports, Valves) (EUAEAFAD), Pipe Welding & Industrial Piping Fabrication Training (EDAOADAB), Fire Sprinkler & Fire Protection Piping (EDAOACAK), Pipe Installation, Repair & Repiping (HSAOAAAB), Leak Detection & Pipe Repair (HSAOAAAC)

Keywords

• Skilled trade union
• Pipefitting apprenticeship
• Plumbing training
• HVAC certification
• Union labor services

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: Members pay union dues and assessments. Union collects employer hourly contributions on behalf of members for health insurance, pensions, and other benefits. The union administers self-funded health insurance program and pension funds.
2. Employer Contributions to Benefits: Contractors make hourly contributions for health insurance ($16.17/hr for commercial work), National Pension Fund, and Local 178 Pension Fund ($3.40/hr commercial, $2.30/hr residential, $1.55/hr HVAC installer).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 178 is a labor union representing over 400 union-trained plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, refrigeration fitters, and service technicians in Missouri. The union provides union membership, a five-year apprenticeship training program (minimum 1,700 hours OJT plus 224 hours classroom instruction per year), journeyman certification courses, and job placement services connecting members with 35+ signatory contractor companies.

Product overview

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 178 is a labor union providing a unified portfolio of services including union membership, a five-year apprenticeship training program, journeyman certification courses, and job placement services. The organization connects over 400 trained professionals with contractors throughout Missouri for residential, commercial, and industrial piping work including process piping, plumbing, steam fitting, refrigeration, medical gas, hydraulics, and welding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Union Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Members earn $8.32/hr more in wages than non-union peers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and CanadaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent international organization based in Annapolis, MD. UA provides training programs, educational opportunities, and support for Local 178 and other local unions across the US and Canada. The UA spends over $100 million annually on training programs.
• Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative committee that administers the apprenticeship training program and journeyman certification courses for Local 178 members. Oversees approximately $225,000 annual investment in training.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC): National association of merit-shop (non-union) electrical and mechanical contractors offering apprenticeship training programs. As an open-shop alternative to UA apprenticeship programs, IEC represents the structural competitive pressure on union training pipelines in the Missouri market.

Broad incumbents

• United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices (UA): The parent international union of Local 178, representing over 355,000 plumbers, pipefitters, HVAC service technicians, and sprinkler fitters across the US and Canada. UA sets training standards, administers the National Pension Fund, and coordinates multi-state apprenticeship programs, making it the direct institutional parent and primary peer in the union category.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): The national trade association representing open-shop (non-union) construction contractors, including mechanical and plumbing firms. ABC competes directly with Local 178 for market share in the Missouri commercial construction market and represents the principal open-shop alternative to unionized labor.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA): National trade association for union mechanical contractors, including many of the signatory contractor companies that employ Local 178 members. MCAA provides education, labor relations support, and industry advocacy that complements and amplifies the value Local 178 delivers to its contractor network.
• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): National non-profit that develops standardized craft training curricula and credentials used across both union and open-shop construction training programs. Represents a competing training credentialing framework to UA's apprenticeship program and a structural alternative for non-union contractors building skilled workforce pipelines.

Regional players

• Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 533: A UA local serving the Springfield, Missouri region historically before Local 178's establishment, now covering adjacent territory. Operates the same apprenticeship/journeyman model and competes for residential and commercial mechanical work in the broader Missouri market.

Others

• Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 54: A Springfield-area building trades union representing sheet metal workers in HVAC fabrication and installation. Partners with UA Local 178 on commercial HVAC and mechanical projects, sharing the same signatory contractor model and apprenticeship training structure.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 453: A Springfield, Missouri-based building trades union representing electricians. While covering a different craft, IBEW operates an identical apprenticeship/journeyman training and signatory contractor model and frequently partners with UA Local 178 on the same commercial construction projects.

Direct peers

• Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 8: A UA local based in Kansas City covering western Missouri, providing the same unionized plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC craft services to a separate Missouri territory. Operates an identical apprenticeship and journeyman training model and competes for some of the same contractors and projects.
• Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 562: A nearby UA local based in St. Louis, Missouri, also representing plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC service technicians. As a sibling local under the same UA parent with overlapping Missouri territory and signatory contractor base, it is the most directly comparable local peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Sothern-Plumbing-LLC-1606483692774333
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plumbers-&-pipefitters-local-union-178

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries32 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL UNION 178