Union Directory
An honest explanation of how unions work and whether the union route makes sense for you.
What Is a Union?
A trade union is an organized group of workers who unite to make decisions about conditions affecting their work. In the skilled trades, unions serve a few core functions: they collectively bargain with contractors to set standard wages and benefits, they establish and fund rigorous apprenticeship training standards, and they operate a hiring hall to dispatch members to available jobs.
When you join a union, you are joining a collective agreement. You agree to pay dues and follow the local's rules, and in exchange, the union negotiates your pay rate, manages your health and pension benefits, and works to ensure safe working conditions across all job sites.
How Local Unions Work
National unions are broken down into regional chapters called "locals" (for example, IBEW Local 123). Your local is your home base. It covers a specific geographic jurisdiction, and its rules, wage scales, and apprenticeship requirements are tailored to that region's economy and labor market.
If you want to enter a union apprenticeship, you apply directly through the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC). Once you are a member, the local's union hall acts as your dispatcher—when a contractor needs workers, they call the hall, and the hall sends members based on availability and skills. Because everything is handled locally, wage scales and competitiveness vary significantly from one state or city to another.
Major Union Systems by Trade
| Union | Trades Represented |
|---|---|
| IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) | Electricians, Linemen, Low-Voltage Technicians |
| UA (United Association) | Plumbers, Pipefitters/Steamfitters, HVAC/R Technicians |
| UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners) | Carpenters, Millwrights, Pile Drivers |
| Boilermakers, Ironworkers, and SMART | Welders, Structural Steel Workers, Sheet Metal Workers (depending on industry and region) |
IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)
Trades: Electricians, Linemen, Low-Voltage Technicians
UA (United Association)
Trades: Plumbers, Pipefitters/Steamfitters, HVAC/R Technicians
UBC (United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners)
Trades: Carpenters, Millwrights, Pile Drivers
Boilermakers, Ironworkers, and SMART
Trades: Welders, Structural Steel Workers, Sheet Metal Workers (depending on industry and region)
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of every trade union, but rather the major systems relevant to the trades covered on this site.
Union vs. Non-Union: The Real Comparison
| Factor | Union | Non-Union (Open Shop) |
|---|---|---|
| Apprenticeship Structure | Highly structured, standardized curriculum, strictly enforced hours. Highly competitive to enter. | Varies wildly by employer. Can be less formal, but often faster to enter and start working immediately. |
| Wages | Set by collective bargaining. Transparent, non-negotiable scale based on classification. | Negotiated individually. Can start lower, but top performers can sometimes negotiate higher base rates faster. |
| Benefits | Typically superior. Comprehensive health, pension, and annuity funds managed by the union. | Varies heavily by contractor. Often standard 401(k) and health plans rather than pensions. |
| Job Placement | Dispatched through the union hall. You work for the union, contracted out to different companies. | Direct hire. You find your own jobs and work directly for a specific contractor. |
| Mobility | Can travel to other locals ("tramping") if work is slow at home, retaining benefits. | Tied to your specific employer. Changing jobs means negotiating new pay and benefits. |
Apprenticeship Structure
Highly structured, standardized curriculum, strictly enforced hours. Highly competitive to enter.
Varies wildly by employer. Can be less formal, but often faster to enter and start working immediately.
Wages
Set by collective bargaining. Transparent, non-negotiable scale based on classification.
Negotiated individually. Can start lower, but top performers can sometimes negotiate higher base rates faster.
Benefits
Typically superior. Comprehensive health, pension, and annuity funds managed by the union.
Varies heavily by contractor. Often standard 401(k) and health plans rather than pensions.
Job Placement
Dispatched through the union hall. You work for the union, contracted out to different companies.
Direct hire. You find your own jobs and work directly for a specific contractor.
Mobility
Can travel to other locals ("tramping") if work is slow at home, retaining benefits.
Tied to your specific employer. Changing jobs means negotiating new pay and benefits.
When comparing offers, remember that total compensation in a union includes pension, health, annuity, and dues—not just the hourly wage on your check. This trade-off is worth weighing directly rather than assuming one side is always better. The specifics vary wildly by trade and location, so be sure to check the specific trade pages for details relevant to your path.
Find Your Local Union
Each national union maintains its own local chapter locator — the most accurate source, since they manage their own directories directly. Use the table below to find your local.
Looking for a different trade, or want to see every building trades union active in your state at once? The North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) maintains a directory of State Building Trades Councils covering all trades: State Building Trades Councils →