UNITED ASSOCIATION
National Plumbing
Service Agreement
REVISED APRIL 2024
UNITED ASSOCIATION
of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting
Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO
I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AGREEMENT Page
ARTICLE I: Scope of Work : 1
ARTICLE DE: “Schedule A” to the United Association National Plumbing
Service Agreement 1
ARTICLE HI: Jurisdiction 2
ARTICLE IV: Classification of Employees 2
ARTICLE V: Non-Discrimination 3
ARTICLE VI: Management Rights 3
ARTICLE VH: Union Recognition and Union Security 3
ARTICLE VIII: Union Representation and Access to Jobs 4
ARTICLE EX: Hiring and Use of Employees 4
ARTICLE X: Wages and Fringe Benefits 5
ARTICLE XI: Hours of Work 7
ARTICLE XII: Shift Work Conditions 7
ARTICLE XIII: Safety 8
ARTICLE XIV Uniforms arid Vehicles 8
ARTICLE XV: Subcontracting 8
ARTICLE XVI: Work Stoppages 8
ARTICLE XVII: Grievance and Arbitration Procedure 9
ARTICLE XVIII: Standard for Excellence 10
I
ARTICLE XIX: , Miscellaneous 10
ARTICLE XX: Effective Date and Renewal 10
i
SCHEDULE A
I. Scope of Work A
H. Territorial Jurisdiction A
HI. Classification of Employees A
IV. Special Conditions B
V. Wages and Fringe Benefits B
SIGNATURE TO SCHEDULE A C
ii
The UNITED ASSOCIATION NATIONAL PLUMBING SERVICE AGREEMENT is hereby
made by and between (hereinafter referred to as the
“Employer”) and the UNITED ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES OF
THE PLUMBING AND PIPE FITTING INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA, AFL-CIO (hereinafter referred to as the “United Association” or “Union”).
ARTICLE I
Scope of Work
1. This Agreement shall apply to all plumbing service work performed by the Employer
to keep existing plumbing systems within occupied or ready to be occupied facilities
operating in an efficient manner. Service work includes inspection, service,
maintenance, start-up, balancing, adjusting, repair, modification and replacement of
plumbing systems. This work shall include but not be limited to sanitary drainage
systems, potable water systems, domestic hot water solar systems, plumbing fixtures,
gray water systems, recycled and rainwater capture systems, irrigation systems, gas
systems, and similar building utilities necessary for habitation and use. This work shall
also inplude service and repair of residential HVAC and mechanical systems and any
HVAC and mechanical systems service work that is incidental to the work otherwise
covered by this Agreement.
2. This Agreement shall also include any and all work of a similar nature to the work
defined in Paragraph 1, within the jurisdiction of the United Association, as mutually
agreed to by the parties and set forth in an approved “Schedule A.”
3. Any other work in the control of the Employer signing this Agreement that falls in the
jurisdiction of the Union, but not in the scope as outlined herein or an applicable
“Schedule A,” shall be done in accordance with the applicable local or national
collective bargaining agreement covering the work in question. The United Association
shall, in its sole discretion, detennine which local or national agreement is the
applicable agreement in the event of a dispute.
ARTICLE II
“Schedule A” to the United Association
National Plumbing Service Agreement
4. No work may be performed under this Agreement unless the parties have agreed to an
executed and approved “Schedule A” specifically covering such work. Each “Schedule
A” shall identify:
/
a. the scope of work;
b. the geographic area or project(s) covered;
1
c. the classification of employees to be utilized;
d. any special conditions; and
e. the applicable wage and fringe benefit rates for each such classification to be utilized.
5. The parties recognize that the Employer may execute multiple approved “Schedule A”
agreements for different aspects of covered work, as well as for separate geographic areas
and/or projects on which the Employer is performing such work.
6. * The terms and conditions set forth in an approved “Schedule A” executed by the parties
to this Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference and are a part of this Agreement,
the same as if set forth herein. The United Association Local Union is not authorized to
execute any modifications to this Agreement or any “Schedule A” unless approved in
writing by the United Association.
7. The duration of any approved “Schedule A” executed by the parties to this Agreement
shall be the same as the duration of this Agreement as provided in Article XX, unless
otherwise agreed to by the parties in the “Schedule A.”
ARTICLE III
Jurisdiction
8. The United Association shall have jurisdiction over all work performed under this
Agreement and shall assign a Local Union territorial jurisdiction for purposes of
administering this Agreement. The United Association shall have the authority to
reassign territorial jurisdiction at any time.
9. All questions or disputes pertaining to trade or territorial jurisdiction of a Local Union or
between two or more Local Unions shall be decided by the United Association and shall
be final and binding on the United Association Local Unions and the Employer. Likewise,
all questions or disputes pertaining to the applicable agreement pursuant to Paragraph 3
or 31 herein shall be decided by the United Association and shall be final and binding on
the United Association Local Unions and the Employer.
ARTICLE IV
Classifications of Employees
10. The classifications of Employees which the Employer may employ on work performed
under this Agreement shall be defined in the approved applicable “Schedule A.”
2
ARTICLE V
Non-Discrimination
11. The Employer and the Union agree that there shall be no discrimination against any
Employee because of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability.
12. Wherever any words are used in this Agreement in the masculine gender, they shall be
construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all situations where
they would so apply.
ARTICLE VI
Management Rights
13. The management of the Employer’s business including, but not limited to, the direction
of the working force, the right to hire, plan, direct, control and schedule all operations
(including scheduling of the work force), and the right to establish, eliminate, change or
introduce new or improved methods, machinery, quality standards or facilities, is the sole
and exclusive prerogative and responsibility of the Employer. The need for, designation
of and determination of the number of Employees and foremen, if any, is solely the
responsibility of the Employer. All rights not specifically nullified by this Agreement are
retained by the Employer.
14. The Employer is vested with the right to relieve Employees from duty because of lack of
work or other legitimate reasons, promote, suspend, demote, transfer, discipline or
discharge for just cause in line with this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
Union Recognition and Union Security
15. The Employer recognizes the Union as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative
for all Employees covered by this Agreement with respect to wages, hours and other terms
and conditions of employment.
16. All members of the Union now in the employ of the Employer shall remain members in
good standing in the Union during the term of this Agreement. Employees in all
classifications covered by this Agreement and hereinafter employed by the Employer shall
become members of the Union on the earliest date provided by applicable law after their
employment, or the date of the signing of this Agreement by the Employer, whichever is
later. This provision shall be effective to the extent permitted by applicable state and
federal lawp.
17. In interpreting good standing, the Employer shall not discharge an Employee for non¬
membership in the Union if it has reasonable grounds for believing that such membership
was not available to the Employee on the same terms and conditions generally applicable
to other members, or that membership was denied or terminated for reasons other than the
3
failure of the Employee to tender the periodic dues and initiation fees uniformly required
as a condition of acquiring or retaining membership.
18. Upon request of the Local Union having jurisdiction of the work being performed, and
upon presentation of proper authorization forms executed by the individual Employees,
the Employer agrees to deduct from the wages of such individual Employees union
initiation fees and dues and shall pay to such Local Union the amount so deducted.
19. All sums withheld by the Employer from the paycheck of the Employees as union
initiation fees and/or dues for the benefit of the Employees’ Local Union shall be
transmitted to the Local Union no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of each month
following the month for which the deductions are being remitted.
ARTICLE VIII
Union Representation and Access to Jobs and Shops
20. Authorized representatives of the Union or the Local Union having jurisdiction over the
work to be performed shall have access to all jobs covered by this Agreement; however,
such representatives shall not interfere with the Employer’s Employees during working
hours.
ARTICLE IX
Hiring and Use of Employees
21. For the purpose of this Agreement the words “Home Local Jurisdiction” shall mean the
jurisdiction of the Local Union where the Employee’s fringe benefit contributions and
deductions are regularly contributed.
22. The Local Union assigned jurisdiction by the United Association over work performed by
an Employer signatory to this Agreement shall serve as a source of manpower.
23. The Employer will first request qualified Employees from the Local Union in the
jurisdiction of the Employer’s place of business or the Local Union in the jurisdiction in
which the work is to be performed. The Local Union, upon such request, agrees to furnish
to the Employer duly qualified Employees, including those with special skills where
applicable, in a sufficient number, as determined by the Employer, to properly execute all
work covered by this Agreement. The Employer shall retain the right to reject any
. applicant referred by the Union if it makes a determination that said individual is not
qualified.
24. If the Local Union is unable to supply competent and skilled Employees satisfactory to
the Employer within forty-eight (48) hours, the Employer may hire such persons wherever
available, subject to the provisions of Article VII, and train such persons to perform the
work required. The Employer shall immediately notify the Local Union having
jurisdiction of any and all new hires covered by this Agreement who were not referred by
the Local Union to ensure that they are properly classified by the Union to perform work
covered by this Agreement.
4
The Employer agrees to be bound by the referral provisions of the Local Union having
jurisdiction that are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.
25. The selection of applicants for referral to jobs shall be on a nondiscriminatory basis and
shall not be based on, or in any way affected by, union membership, bylaws, rules,
regulations, constitutional provision or by any other aspect or obligation of union
membership, policy or requirement; no distinction in treatment will be made based on
religion, color, age, national origin, sex, disability or on any other basis prohibited by
applicable law.
26. Except as otherwise set forth in an applicable “Schedule A,” the Employer may at its
discretion, for work covered under Article I of this Agreement, assign the first three
Employees from the Employer’s regular work force to work on a job within the territorial
jurisdiction of another Local Union. The next two Employees with the required skills shall
be from the Local Union jurisdiction where the work is being performed, with one
Employee at a time being assigned, as needed. Thereafter, additional qualified Employees
shall be hired on an alternating basis from the Employer’s regular work force and the
Local Union jurisdiction, to a maximum of five from the Employer’s regular work force,
unless a larger number is agreed to in writing between the Employer and the Local Union
where the job is being performed.
ARTICLE X
Wages and Fringe Benefits
27. The Employer shall pay wages for each hour worked by Employees performing work
covered by this Agreement in accordance with the applicable “Schedule A” to this
Agreement.
28. When an Employee is assigned to work service outside his Home Local Jurisdiction for
more than eight hours in a standard work week within any one jurisdiction, and when the
hourly wage rate as set. forth in the “Schedule A” or applicable local agreement in the
jurisdiction where the Employee is working differs from that of his Home Local
Jurisdiction, including “Schedule A,” the higher rate shall apply after the first eight hours
of work. All of the legally negotiated fringe benefit contributions or deductions under the
Employee’s Home Local Jurisdiction’s agreement, shall be paid only to the Trustees of
the Fringe Benefit Funds of the Home Local Jurisdiction.
,
29. Pay day shall be once each week, no later than the fifth day following the end of the
Employer’s weekly payroll period. However, if checks are mailed, the Employer shall do
so no later than the third working day following the end of the Employer’s weekly payroll
period. Employees are to be paid by negotiable payroll check or by electronic or automatic
direct deposit, in accordance with applicable law. When Employees are laid off or
discharged, they shall be immediately paid all wages due. However, if payment comes
from a central facility, and it is permitted by state law, payment may be sent via U.S.
Priority Mail (or by electronic or automatic direct deposit if previously approved by the
Employee) within three working days of the last day worked.
5
30. The Employer shall be required to pay fringe benefit contributions as set forth in the
applicable “Schedule A” for each hour worked by all Employees performing work
covered by this Agreement.
31. In addition to the fringe benefit contributions required by the applicable “Schedule A,”
the Employer shall also be required to make fringe benefit contributions for each hour
worked by all Employees performing work covered by this Agreement to the United
Association International Training Fund. The amount of the required contribution shall
be set forth in the applicable “Schedule A.”
32. If work covered by this Agreement is performed on public projects and applicable law
requires the payments of established prevailing wages and benefits, the Employer shall be
required to pay said wages and benefits if they are higher than those specified for in this
Agreement or the applicable “Schedule A.”
33. The Employer agrees to be bound by the written terms of any legally established trust
agreements establishing any Trust Fund to which the Employer is required to contribute
under this Agreement and the Employer agrees to be bound thereby to all amendments
made thereto, the same as if the Employer was a party to said trust agreements. The
Employer authorizes the parties to such trust agreements to appoint Trustees and successor
trustees to administer the Trust Funds and hereby ratifies and accepts the Trustees so
appointed as if made by the Employer. The Employer firrther agrees to be bound by all
properly adopted rules and regulations issued by the Trustees of all such funds. The
Employer agrees that all contributions to the Trust Funds set forth in this Agreement shall
be made at such time and in such manner as the Trustees of such funds shall require, and
the Trustees shall have the authority to retain an accountant or accounting firm to perform
payroll audits of the Employer to determine whether the correct amount of contributions
have been made or to determine whether contributions have been made on behalf of all
Employees covered by this Agreement.
34. If an Employer fails to make contributions to any of the funds to which contributions are
required to be made pursuant to this Agreement or applicable “Schedule A,” the Union
shall have the right to take whatever steps are required to secure compliance, including
removing Employees from the Employer providing advance notice of not less than
twenty-four (24) hours is given for such action to the delinquent Employer. Such removal
of Employees and cessation of work by Employees for such delinquent Employer shall
not be a violation of the “no-strike” clause or any other provision of this Agreement and
shall not bar or limit the other remedies allowable under this Agreement, the applicable
bust agreements or law.
35. If the Employer fails to make contributions to the trust funds set forth in this Agreement,
the Employer shall be liable for all costs of collecting the payments together with legal
and audit fee’s, interest at the highest rate permitted by the state in which the delinquency
occurred, and such late payment fees and liquidated damages as may be assessed by the
Trustees. If an Employer fails to make contributions to any of the Funds set forth in the
Agreement, such failure shall be grounds for termination of this Agreement with thirty
days written notice.
6
36. When an Employee reports for work during the regular work day and is not given the
opportunity to work, and was not notified before completing the previous day’s work, the
Employee shall be paid two (2) hours reporting time.
37. Should a Project Maintenance Agreement (“PMA”) or a Project Labor Agreement
(“PLA”) be entered into by the United Association or its Local Union, which contains
wages and working conditions more advantageous than set forth in this Agreement, an
Employer performing work covered by this Agreement shall be eligible for these more
advantageous terms for work performed at the applicable PMA or PLA job site.
ARTICLE XI
Hours of Work
38. The regular workweek shall be five (5) consecutive work days Monday through Saturday
and shall consist of eight (8) consecutive hours of work between the hours of 6 a.m. and
9 p.m., excluding a half-hour unpaid lunch period, or as mutually agreed upon by the
parties to this Agreement. By mutual agreement between the Employer and the Union, the
regular workweek may be established to consist of four consecutive ten hour days. The
pay for all hours worked on a four-tens schedule shall be at the applicable straight- time
rate and not subject to overtime provisions.
39. Overtime pay shall be required for all hours in excess of the regularly scheduled
workweek or in excess of the regularly scheduled workday, as defined above.
40. All overtime will be paid at one and one-half times the straight-time rate, except that work
performed Saturdays in excess of eight hours and all hours worked on Sundays or the
following holidays (or, if the holiday falls on a weekend, the day recognized by the federal
government as the holiday) will be paid at double the straight-time rate: New Year’s Day,
Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
ARTICLE Xn
Shift Work Conditions
41. Where it becomes necessary to work shifts for a period of not less than three (3)
consecutive workdays in the same workweek, the second and third shifts shall be as
follows:
! Second Shift:Not to exceedeight (8) consecutive hoursplus a thirty
(30) minute lunch period, commencing after 3:00 p.m. and ending
not later than 1:00 a.m. the following day, shall be known as the
second shift. The shift differential shall be 10% of the base straighttime hourly wage rate.
Third Shift: Not to exceed eight (8) consecutive hours plus a thirty
(30) minute lunch break, commencing after 11:00 p.m. and ending
not later than 8:00 a.m. the following day, shall be known as the third
7
shift. The shift differential shall be 15% of the base straight- time
hourly wage rate.
42. Forty hours per week shall constitute a full week’s work. Any work in excess of eight (8)
hours per day and all worked beyond the forty (40) hours per week shall be compensated
subject to the provisions of Article XI.
ARTICLE XIII
Safety
43. Employers, Employees and the Union recognize the importance of working in a safe
environment. It is to the benefit of all parties for the Employer to provide safety training
and for the Employees to comply with all safety regulations and policies.
44. The Employer shall have the right to make and revise from time to time safety and
working rules that are not inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XIV
Uniforms and Vehicles
45. All Employees shall keep themselves clean and neat. When special uniforms are required
by the Employer, the Employer shall supply such uniforms.
46. Employees shall keep equipment and company-owned vehicles, within their control, in a
neat, clean and safe condition.
ARTICLE XV
Subcontracting
47. In order to secure work for Employees of the Employer under this Agreement and in order
to protect wages and working conditions of such Employees, the Employer shall make
reasonable efforts to perform covered work with Employees covered by this Agreement.
To this end, the Employer agrees that it will not subcontract or sublet out any service or
repair work covered by this Agreement to be performed by any other Employer unless
that Employer pays wages and fringe benefits, as well as provides working conditions,
that are no less than the wages, fringe benefits and working conditions provided in this
Agreement and the “Schedule A.”
‘ ARTICLE XVI
I Work Stoppages
48. The Union will not induce, engage or participate, directly or indirectly in any strike,
picketing, slowdown, stoppage or other curtailment or interference with the Employer’s
operations, or interfere with the flow of business in or out of places where the Employer
is doing business, provided however, the Union may withhold manpower if an Employer
8
fails to pay wages in full and on time or if the Employer has been delinquent in the
payment of fringe benefits as required by this Agreement.
49. There shall be no work stoppages because of jurisdictional disputes pertaining to trade or
territorial jurisdiction of a Local Union or between two or more United Association Local
Unions.
ARTICLEXVn
Grievance and Arbitration Procedure
50. Where a disagreement exists between the Employer and the Union regarding the intent,
meaning, application or compliance with the terms of this Agreement or an approved
“Schedule A,” it shall be resolved in accordance with the grievance procedure covered in
this Article. Such disagreement shall be submitted for resolution within ten (10) days from
the date of the occurrence or from the date it reasonably could have been discovered by the
parties involved in accordance with the grievance procedure covered in this Article.
51. When a disagreement arises, the resolution and/or settlement shall proceed as follows:
Step 1: On a local basis between the Local Union assigned jurisdiction
and the Employer. If not settled within five (5) working days, proceed
to:
Step 2: The grievance shall be settled between the United Association
and the Employer. If not settled within thirty (30) days, proceed to:
Step 3: The grievance shall be reduced to writing in terms of the issue(s)
to be arbitrated and shall be filed unilaterally or jointly with the
Industrial Relations Council (“IRC”).
52. The parties agree to be bound by the rules, regulations and procedures of the IRC for
resolving any disagreements referred to it under this Agreement or approved “Schedule
A.” It is further understood and agreed that each sideshall bear its own costs of submitting
such dispute to the IRC, except that any filing fee shall be shared equally. The IRC shall
only have jurisdiction and authority to interpret, apply or determine compliance with the
provisions of this Agreement or approved “Schedule A” and shall not have jurisdiction to
modify or change the Agreement in any way. The parties further agree that the decision
of the IRC shall be final and binding on all parties.
53. If there has been a violation of this Agreement, the IRC is authorized to devise an
appropriate remedy including, but not limited to, payment of all wages and fringe benefits
due and‘owing on behalf of an Employee who has been adversely affected by a violation
of this Agreement.
54. When a grievance is initiated by the United Association rather than an Employee or a
Local Union, the United Association shall have the option to bypass step one and proceed
directly to a second step meeting. Such United Association grievances shall be filed in
9
writing within a reasonable time from the date of the occurrence or from the date it
reasonably could have been discovered.
ARTICLE XVIH
Standard for Excellence
55. The parties subscribe to and adopt the United Association Standard for Excellence. It is
also agreed that the Employer will adopt and be bound by the procedures in place to
effectuate the Standard for Excellence, if any, as negotiated by the Local Union and the
recognized contractor’s group in the area where the Employer’s branch office(s) are
located.
ARTICLE XIX
Miscellaneous
56. If any provision of this Agreement is in conflict with the laws or regulations of the United
States, , or any state in which the work is to be performed, such provision shall be
superseded by such law or regulation, but all other provisions of this Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect.
57. This Agreement supersedes all the provisions of any other Local Union Agreement for
work covered by this Agreement. Signatories to this Agreement are not required to sign
any Local Agreements except that they may be required to subscribe in writing to Local
Union Trust Fund Agreements for the purpose of making required contributions to said
Funds as provided in Article X.
ARTICLE XX
Effective Date and Renewal
58. This Agreement shall become effective when signed by the parties hereto and shall remain
in full force and effect until . Thereafter, this Agreement shall
automatically renew itself for additional one (1) year periods unless either party serves
written notice of termination or a written request for modification upon the other party
sixty (60) days prior to the Agreement’s expiration. Likewise, any “Schedule A” entered
into by the parties is effective when signed and shall remain in full force and effect for the
duration of this Agreement provided herein, unless provided otherwise in the “Schedule
A.”
59. The parties may at any time during the term of this Agreement agree to renegotiate its
terms and conditions, on the sole and exclusive condition that such agreement to reopen
and renegotiate is mutually agreed to in writing by the parties. Additionally, no
modification to this Agreement shall be binding or of any force or effect unless and until
it is reduced to writing and mutually agreed to by the parties.