Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Starts Three-Way Conversation

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 recently held a program that union leaders hope will begin a continuing dialogue with contractors and buyers of construction. On Oct. 14 the union, in cooperation with the St. Council of Construction Consumers,  the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri, and the Plumbing Industry Council, held the inaugural "Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Tripartite Conference".

"Basically for years we've worked for the owners but never had a relationship with them.," John O'Mara, assistant business manager of Local 562 said.  "So we've tried to open the door where we could have a back-and-forth about what the owners are looking for from our members."

O'Mara said the St. Louis program mirrors a tripartite conference that was held at the national level by the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters.

The program covered presentations on training, welding certification, drug testing, manpower needs and other issues, followed by roundtable discussions  during  which owners and contractors presented specific issues to the union representatives.

Approximately 70 people attended the presentation.  Major construction consumer firms  attending included Ameren, Anheuser-Busch, BJC,  The City of St. Louis and St. Louis  Airport Authority, Covidien, Northstar,  Prairie State, SSM,  and Washington U. School of Medicine.

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