Legislative Issues
Our nation’s aging water systems—the pipes, treatment plants and storage tanks that deliver safe, clean water to our homes and businesses—are reaching a tipping point and must be replaced. Investments in water infrastructure will promote American innovation and competitiveness, create thousands of jobs in construction and manufacturing sectors, and ensure our communities have access to safe and reliable water systems.
OLD PIPES NEED NEW FUNDING
Many U.S. cities rely on... Read More
The UA is extremely proud of the men and women of the armed forces. To that end, in conjunction with the U.S. military, we offer the Veterans in Piping (VIP) program, which provides veterans with transitional assistance and accelerated welding training in preparation for promising careers in the piping industry. This program, which began at Fort Lewis in Washington State, has since been expanded to Camp Pendleton in California, where we are on our seventh class, and to Fort McCoy... Read More
So-called Right to Work laws pose a serious threat to worker rights and should be strongly protested by anyone who believes in the dignity of workers and working families. Portrayed as something that is supposed to give workers free choice, these laws are really just disguised attacks on union resources. By allowing indiivduals to reap the benefits of union-negotiated contracts without paying dues, they limit organized labor's ability to help all working families.
Labor unions... Read More
Project Labor Agreements (PLAs): Leveling the Playing Field and Streamlining Construction Projects
Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are an essential tool used to set employment terms on a jobsite. PLAs lead to safer jobsites, higher wages, and fair benefits for UA members – and better outcomes for contractors, end users, and communities.
The basics:
Setting the Terms: Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are single-site collective bargaining agreements between building trades... Read More
The UA supports updating the tax code for fire sprinkler systems by decreasing the depreciation schedule for residential and commercial buildings. Modernizing the code will guarantee the safety of America’s families, benefit property owners while creating substantial numbers of construction and manufacturing jobs for our members.
THE FIRE SPRINKLER INCENTIVE ACT
With the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (FSIA), H.R. 1481, reintroduced in the 115th Congress, the UA is actively... Read More
At the UA, we believe that an economy built to last must make the most of America’s energy resources. It must be fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources that strengthen our economy, promote steady job growth, and make us more secure and less dependent on foreign oil. That is why we support an “all of the above” approach to developing new sources of energy, expanding oil and gas production, boosting renewable power generation, supporting growth in nuclear power, and... Read More
The Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Act was passed in 1931 on the common-sense theory that government should not undermine wages and standards in American communities when it purchases construction services for itself. In short, it ensures that federal contractors pay a fair wage for an honest day’s work. Nevertheless, some of our opponents continue to attack this law at a national level at the behest of low-road corporations who would rather pad their profits than pay decent wages and benefits.... Read More