Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 43 in Chattanooga, TN has enjoyed a rich history since receiving its charter on August 25, 1890. The local has withstood many up and downs in the labor movement. Once a thriving industrial city, the 1980’s took its toll in Chattanooga. The following years would be hard times for our members. Then state and local officials began a huge undertaking to revitalize Chattanooga’s riverfront. We would see a change to commercial opportunity and see the industry fall rapidly. This transformation would last for many years, in which numerous restaurants, hotels, parks, a new semi-pro baseball stadium, the south’s largest fresh and salt water aquariums were all completed and are now visible in the downtown area.

Over a period of decades our members have adjusted well to the changing times. Through the 1960’s and 70’s the transition from residential and commercial work took on a whole new meaning when TVA located (2) two nuclear plants within Local 43’s jurisdiction. Today Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear plants along with (13) thirteen dams, a pump storage facility and TVA’s Chattanooga office complex, combined, helps to provide millions of man hours for Local 43 members.

With TVA’s presence in the Tennessee Valley, a lot of families have enjoyed many prosperous years. But TVA is only a portion of the industry. Other major company’s in the industry include Dupont, BASF, Dow Chemical, Vesicol Chemical, to name a few.

Through these times our members, officers and leaders had to adapt to many changes in our trade. Creating a state of the art training facility, our apprentices and journeyman have the opportunity and ability to continue increasing their knowledge and skills of the trade.

With the decrease of industry in our jurisdiction, our Journeyman and Apprentices saw the need to better equip them for the job market that remained. The vast majority of our members currently hold multiple certifications that are more suited to the service type jobs that remain. Some of these certifications are; EPRI Valve Maintenance, Certified Backflow Technicians, Med Gas and Certified Welders, to name a few.

We currently have over 150 apprentices enrolled in classes. The training department has also secured one of the UA’s “Mobile Welder Training Trailers” for use in fulfilling the numerous certified welder positions that are being projected throughout the upcoming years. Our Training Coordinator has been aggressive in his recruitment of new apprenticeship candidates. By entering into the secondary education arena and taping potential candidates in their junior year of high school, he has established a productive relationship with both the individual and the school faculty. With the escalating demand for skilled personnel, our current training facility will have no choice but to expand to meet that need.

With warm Southern hospitality, Local 43 members play a vital role in the community by sponsoring numerous activities and organizations such as: Golf tournaments, Special Olympics, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Veterans, Local Rescue Squads, Local Fire Departments, softball/baseball teams, Local 43 Softball team, and Tennessee Sheriff’s Association to name a few.