The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada or "UA" as it is commonly known is a multi-craft union whose members are engaged in the fabrication, installation and servicing of piping systems. There are approximately 340,000 highly-skilled United Association members who belong to over 300 individual local unions across North America.
Apprenticeship is one of the oldest forms of vocational training known to man. It is a mutual investment in human capital by employers, employees, and public agencies. Apprenticeship is a system of training that meets the needs of a particular industry or occupation. The Program sponsor and the employer provide the career training. The apprentice provides potential for becoming a valued skilled member of the employers' and the nation's work force.