Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638

What Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638 does

Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638 is a private labor union chartered in 1884 (originally as Enterprise Assembly #3189 under the Knights of Labor) and affiliated with the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry since 1914. It operates as a combination local union with jurisdiction over all general pipe fitting across the five boroughs of New York City and the Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island, structured into two branches: a Construction Branch covering new-build HVAC-R, fire protection, and power generation piping, and a Metal Trades Service Branch covering HVAC/R service, maintenance, and repair. Its revenue model is built on recurring monthly member dues processed through an online Cardworks-powered payment portal, supplemented by contractor-side contributions administered via collective bargaining agreements (notably with the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York).

The organization operates three Long Island City facilities: a headquarters at 27-08 40th Avenue and two training centers at 48-03 32nd Place (Construction and Service branches). It runs a five-year apprenticeship program, journeymen enhancement courses, and a three-year HVAC/R Service Technician Training program, investing over $4 million annually in training. Member services are delivered through a self-serve online dues portal and a signatory contractor portal. Distribution and recruitment are driven by a community-led go-to-market that draws apprentices from programs such as Helmets to Hardhats, Nontraditional Employment for Women, Construction Skills, Pathways to Apprenticeship, and Opportunities Long Island, while an Organizing Department targets non-union pipefitters in the jurisdiction. The union is governed by an elected Business Manager (Robert J. Bartels, Jr.), President (Brian Hunt), Financial Secretary Treasurer (Mike Koebel), Vice President (Timothy Sullivan), and a multi-board oversight structure (Executive Board, Trade Board, Board of Trustees, Examining Board, Finance Board). It is member-owned, with no external equity holders and no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638

Legal name

Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638

Website

https://steamfitters638.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638 is a 1884-chartered, member-owned labor union with jurisdiction over all general pipe fitting in NYC's five boroughs and Long Island, representing Construction and Metal Trades Service branches through dues, apprenticeship training, and collective bargaining.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Trade Union

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply (221330), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Steam & Air-Conditioning Supply (4961), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)

akta.pro primary industry

Plumbing & Pipefitting Contracting (IMAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pipefitting & Steamfitting (EDAOACAB), Hydronics & Boiler Systems (EDAOACAF), Chillers, Boilers & Central Plant Operations (BPABACAG), Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Construction trade union
• Pipefitter apprenticeship training
• HVAC service technician training
• Collective bargaining representation
• Union member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Dues: Members pay monthly dues for union membership, processed through an online payment portal. Dues cover representation, training, and benefits administration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638 is a combination local labor union representing pipefitters, steamfitters, HVAC/R, welding, sprinkler, and mechanical trades workers across all five boroughs of New York City and Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties). The union provides collective bargaining representation, workforce training through two state-of-the-art training centers, a five-year apprenticeship program, journeymen enhancement training, and HVAC/R service technician training. It also administers benefits, job placement via the 'All BA's' list, and contractor signatory services under trade line agreements dating to 1914.

Product overview

Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638 is a combination local union representing the Construction Branch and the Metal Trades Service Branch. The organization operates two state-of-the-art Training Centers offering a comprehensive five-year apprenticeship program, Journeymen Enhancement Training, and HVAC/R Service Technician Training. Member services include an online Dues Payment Portal and secure member/contractor login portals. Local 638 invests over $4 million annually on training programs to maintain a highly skilled workforce for pipe fitting in New York City and Long Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steamfitters' Industry Training Center - Construction Branch State-of-the-art training facility offering journeymen enhancement training programs with courses and certifications for construction branch steamfitters. Local 638 invests over $4 Million annually on training programs.
• Steamfitters' Industry Training Center - Service Branch (Metal Trades) HVAC/R Service Technicians Training Center (STTC) providing skills, innovative experience-based training, and technical support for service fitters. Offers three-year trade-related classroom and laboratory training totaling minimum 208 hours per year.
• Five-Year Apprenticeship Program Comprehensive five-year apprenticeship program with two-week cycle classes, one day every two weeks. Apprentices receive on-the-job training while earning and learning classroom theory on all types of piping systems including HVACR, Fire Protection and Power Generation.
• Dues Payment Portal Online payment portal enabling members to pay monthly union dues. A payment covers a minimum of one month's dues. Features credit/debit card processing through Cardworks Acquiring.
• Contractors Only Portal Signatory contractor information portal providing access to contractor-specific resources and information under collective bargaining agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Union members earn 28% more than nonunion workers on average

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• NYS Building & Construction Trades CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with New York State Building & Construction Trades Council, a building and construction trades council representing workers across New York State.
• New York State Pipe Trades AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with New York State Pipe Trades Association representing pipe trades workers and contractors in NYS.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of New York (MCA of New York)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor-management partnership with MCA of New York. The Service Fitters Educational Fund is maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement between the Metal Trades Branch of Local Union 638 and the Service Contractors Division of the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York.
• Helmets to HardhatsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program connecting military veterans with careers in the building and construction trades. Local 638 participates in this program for recruiting veteran apprentices.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCA of New York is listed as a popular link and partner. Labor/management relationship through collective bargaining agreements.
• National Fire Sprinkler AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for fire sprinkler fitting, related to the sprinkler fitting craft under Local 638's jurisdiction.
• New York City Building & Construction Trades CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with NYC Building & Construction Trades Council representing construction trades workers in New York City.
• Steamfitters Industry FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry fund supporting training and workforce development for steamfitters. Associated with www.steamfitters.com.
• Nontraditional Employment for WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram providing opportunities for women in construction trades. Local 638 recruits from this program for apprenticeship.
• Construction SkillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction training program in NYC. Local 638 recruits apprentices from this program.
• Opportunities Long IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong Island workforce development program. Local 638 recruits apprentices from this program.
• Pathways to ApprenticeshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram providing pathways to apprenticeship for underserved communities and formerly incarcerated individuals. Local 638 recruits from this program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• New York State Pipe Trades Association: State-level pipe trades association affiliated with Local 638, representing pipe trades workers and contractors across New York State. Provides policy coordination and industry representation that directly benefits Local 638's members.
• Mechanical Contractors Association of New York (MCA of NY): Labor counterpart to Local 638, representing signatory mechanical contractors in collective bargaining. Forms a labor-management partnership for wage standardization and benefits administration, making MCA of NY a structural and operational peer.
• New York City Building & Construction Trades Council: Umbrella organization coordinating NYC building trades unions including Local 638. Peer structure that Local 638 participates in for collective bargaining, political action, and jurisdictional coordination across multiple trades.

Direct peers

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3: NYC-based building trades union representing electrical workers. Closest peer in terms of NYC market overlap, similar training investment scale, and membership economics model. Together with Local 638, operates under the NYC Building Trades Council.
• Iron Workers Local Union No. 40 (NYC): NYC ironworkers local operating under the same Building Trades Council structure as Local 638. Comparable membership scale, similar craft training investment, and joint project labor agreements on large NYC construction projects.
• Plumbers Local Union No. 1 (NYC): Sister UA local representing plumbers in NYC, with whom Local 638 shares the 1914 trade line jurisdictional agreement. Operates the same craft union model in the same NYC geography with overlapping membership types.
• Steamfitters Local Union No. 449 (Chicago): One of the largest UA steamfitter locals in the US, representing pipefitters in the Chicago metropolitan area. Closest direct peer in terms of craft specialty (steamfitting/pipefitting) and organizational model.
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14 (NYC): NYC operating engineers local representing heavy equipment operators. Peer union in NYC building trades ecosystem with comparable training investment, jurisdictional territory, and collective bargaining relationships with contractors.

Broad incumbents

• United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Techs (UA): The international union parent organization of Local 638, representing 355,000+ plumbers, pipefitters, and service technicians across the US and Canada. Local 638 is an affiliated UA local, making UA its primary structural peer.

Regional players

• UA Local Union No. 420 (Philadelphia): Philadelphia-area UA pipefitters local representing members in eastern Pennsylvania. Comparable craft focus on pipefitting and HVAC with similar apprenticeship structure, but operating in a different Northeast metro market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/steamfitters638
• Facebookfacebook.com/steamfitters638
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/enterprise-association-of-steamfitters-local-union-638

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638