BUILD A BETTER FUTURE

 The Construction Industry offers a great career. With Apprenticeship and Journeyman training, the United Association is your path to a better future.
 Demand for skilled workers is at a peak level and will only increase in the future. You can find a career in construction that will provide you with a great opportunity:

AGE & EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

You must be at least age 18 to start in the Apprentice Training Program. You must have a high school education or equivalent.

A strong work ethic and desire to excel will always provide you with an advantage. Apprenticeship is both an ancient tradition and a highly effective modern training method, proving to still be the best system for trades training.

WAGES

You can earn income immediately because the construction industry pays wages even while the craft is being learned.

HEALTH INSURANCE

A Union employer contributes to a Health Care Trust Fund which is managed by a Board of Trustees. When you become eligible for the Health Plan based on your hours of work; you and your dependents will be covered.

PENSION BENEFITS

You will earn pension credits as you work in the trade. A Union employer pays into a Pension Trust Fund for each hour you work. The employer pays 100% of the cost of the Pension Plan with no employee matching.

JOB SECURITY

Well trained craftspeople are at the highest demand in decades. Many workers in these fields will be retiring in the next five years and need to be replaced.

WHY JOIN A UNION?

The Union provides you with rights and privileges that are protected through a collective bargaining agreement. The Union provides you with a voice in your future. Wages, Benefits and working conditions are established in the Contract between Labor and management. This gives you a secure future and provides you with the very best overall compensation package in the Industry.

This is just a brief introduction to the benefits of becoming a part of the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Welders and HVAC Service techs.

To join the UA without any prior experience, individuals enter a United Association five-year apprenticeship program and are part of a select group of men and women motivated to learn a complex and challenging trade while upholding the ideals of trade unionism.

Applicants are evaluated on the same fair basis, without regard to race, sex, national origin or religious affiliation. UA apprentices learn through both classroom and on the job training in what is considered by many to be the best construction industry apprentice program in the world.

All UA apprentices receive a strong general education in the trade, with core courses in basics such as mathematics, science, drafting, welding and other pipe trades related courses.

UA Local Union 198 Apprenticeship Program

 – 5 year Apprenticeship program (School)
 – Area of Study (Classroom and Hands On)
        – Plumbing
        – Pipefitting
        – HVAC
        – Welding
        

 – School is from September (Labor Day) to the end of May.
        – All classes are evening classes.
     

 – To apply for the program, you must apply in person at the Apprenticeship School or Union Hall.
     – You will need to bring the following items with you:
         – Birth Certificate
        – Social Security Card
        – Current Driver’s License
        – High School Diploma and Transcript or GED Certificate
        – $25 application fee (cash or check only)

    – We have 2 Training Center locations:
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 198 Apprenticeship East
                          5355 Greenwell St.
                          Baton Rouge, LA 70805
                          Or
                          Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 198 Apprenticeship West
                          5432 Broad Street
                          Lake Charles, LA 70615

Apprenticeship hours are 7am-4:30pm, Monday – Thursday and 7am-12pm, Friday.

 – For more information call or e-mail:
                          Jonathan Waddell, Business Manager,
                          225-355-9938 Baton Rouge or 337-436-4373 Lake Charles