UA members not only receive extensive technical training, but they are held to a higher standard of business practices. The UA Standards for Excellence policy establishes strict workplace standards for both UA members and contractors, ensuring safe, efficient work practices and customer satisfaction on the jobs performed by our signatory contractors for their customers. Contractors and plumbers not associated with the UA are not held to these high standards and offer no guarantee of the credentials and ethical standards of the servicemen. Too often, community members have been left with incomplete or low quality work by the non-UA serviceman they chose. By hiring UA members, you can be assured that your project will be completed honestly, by a well trained technician dedicated to the craft.

The UA offers its members training in sustainability practices and the implementation of sustainable products and systems in residential and commercial structures. In addition to its extensive skills training programs, the UA has trained instructors to certify members in Green Systems Awareness. The UA Green Systems Awareness program has recently been recognized by the United States Green Building Council’s Educational Provider Program. In accordance with the USGBC, the program offers courses at all learning levels to supplement USGBC’s core educational offerings and has been thoroughly reviewed to meet the USGBC’s criteria for instructional design and content quality.

UA Plumbers and Pipefitters live in the communities they work in. They are actively involved in community activities, churches and schools and pride themselves on spending their money with local businesses.

Southeast Kansas UA members also give back to the community through various charitable efforts organized by the UA Local 441.

Heats On is an annual program that recruits volunteers to service furnaces, light the pilots and winterize air conditioners for low-income senior citizens and disabled individuals. In some cases where heating equipment is inoperable, volunteers replace it with a new furnace free of charge to the client.

Members of UA Local 441 and the Mechanical & Sheet Metal Contractors Association jointly donated labor to support His Helping Hands, a non-denominational ministry building project. They helped to build a 27,000 square foot facility to collect, store and distribute donated second hand clothing, furniture, appliances and other items. This new facility helps over 100 families weekly and is complete with a walk-in freezer for food storage and shower and laundry facilities for the homeless.