United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) General President Mark McManus hailed the executive action signed today by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. to revoke the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) created by the previous administration as a critical step towards protecting the gold standard training and apprenticeship programs of the UA and the building trades:
“Today’s decision means the United Association’s training and apprenticeship programs are still the gold standard of the construction industry – and cheap contractors cannot undercut our members,” said Mark McManus, General President of the United Association. “The United Association invests more than $275 million of private money each year into our training and apprenticeship programs for one simple reason: to make sure our members have the skills and tools they need for a successful and lifelong career. That’s why the Brothers and Sisters of the United Association mobilized like never before when the previous administration first proposed their IRAPs rule, writing more than 70,000 letters in opposition to IRAPs. This executive action will protect our members and their livelihoods by ensuring our training and apprenticeship programs remain the strongest in the industry. Make no mistake: the entire United Association, our signatory contractors, and the construction industry is better off because of today’s action by President Biden.”