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The 5 Pillars Of Power: Why UA Local 72 Pipefitters Are Driving Atlanta's $17 Billion Construction Boom

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The construction landscape in Georgia is undergoing a massive transformation in late 2024, and at the core of this industrial revolution stands Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVACR Technicians Local Union 72. This Atlanta-based United Association (UA) local is not just a union; it is the essential workforce powering the state’s most critical infrastructure, from billion-dollar data centers to cutting-edge hospital facilities. The union’s commitment to unparalleled, debt-free training ensures its members—journeymen and apprentices alike—are the most skilled and highly compensated tradespeople in the Southeast, making a career with Local 72 a premier pathway to financial stability and professional excellence.

The demand for skilled union pipefitters, plumbers, and HVACR technicians has never been higher, driven by a surge in large-scale commercial and industrial projects across the Greater Atlanta area. With a newly negotiated contract addendum in place for 2024–2028, Local 72 is actively recruiting and training the next generation of tradespeople to meet the immense needs of Georgia’s booming economy.

UA Local 72: Leadership and Jurisdiction

UA Local Union 72 is the official representative for the plumbing, pipefitting, and HVACR trades across a vast jurisdiction in Georgia. The union provides a unified voice and collective bargaining power for its members, ensuring fair wages, comprehensive benefits, and safe working conditions. The organization's leadership is dedicated to maintaining the highest industry standards through rigorous training and strong partnerships with signatory contractors.

  • Official Name: Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVACR Technicians Local Union 72
  • Affiliation: United Association (UA) of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
  • Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
  • Business Manager: Terry Newsome, Jr.
  • Core Trades: Plumbers, Pipefitters, Steamfitters, HVACR Service Technicians, Welders
  • Training Center: Mechanical Trades Institute (MTI-JATT)
  • Key Focus Areas: Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, and Residential construction and service.

The Gold Standard: Unmatched Training at MTI-JATT

A career with Local 72 begins with the Mechanical Trades Institute (MTI-JATT), the official Joint Apprenticeship Training Trust. This facility is widely recognized as providing one of the nation’s best construction industry apprenticeship programs, completely funded by the union and its signatory contractors—meaning apprentices pay no tuition or student debt.

The Five-Year, Debt-Free Apprenticeship Program

The Local 72 apprenticeship is a comprehensive, five-year program that combines intensive classroom instruction with mandatory, paid on-the-job training (OJT).

  • Program Duration: Five years.
  • On-the-Job Training: Over 10,000 hours of hands-on experience on active construction sites.
  • Curriculum Focus: Plumbing, Pipefitting, HVACR, blueprint reading, welding, rigging, and safety (including OSHA 30 certification).
  • Licensing: Apprentices are prepared to obtain the State of Georgia Journeyman Plumbing License, a critical certification for professional work in the state.

Advanced Welding and Certification Expertise

One of Local 72’s most significant differentiators is its commitment to welding excellence. The MTI-JATT facility is a hub for advanced metal joining techniques, a necessity for high-pressure industrial piping systems. The union offers its members continuous, no-cost training to maintain and expand their skills.

The Joint Apprenticeship Training Trust (JATT) holds bimonthly weld testing sessions, allowing Local 72 members the opportunity to certify in an astounding 78 different welding processes. This level of specialized certification ensures Local 72 welders are qualified for the most complex and critical projects, including those in power generation, manufacturing, and data center cooling systems.

Wages, Benefits, and The 2024–2028 Contract Outlook

A primary benefit of joining UA Local 72 is the highly competitive wage and benefits package secured through collective bargaining. While the specific hourly rates are detailed in the official, member-exclusive "Wages & Fringes Addendum For 2024–2028," the union structure guarantees a clear path to high-earning potential.

Journeyman and Apprentice Compensation

Local 72’s pay structure is designed to reward skill and experience. Apprentices start at a percentage of the Journeyman rate, with guaranteed raises every six to twelve months as they progress through the five-year program and gain more on-the-job hours. A $1.50 increase to the Journeyman package was implemented in August 2022, with a minimum of $1.00 applied directly to the wage, confirming a commitment to increasing member compensation under the collective bargaining agreement.

Furthermore, foremen—those who lead construction crews—receive a premium above the standard Journeyman rate, often $2.00 more per hour, recognizing their added responsibility and expertise.

Comprehensive Fringe Benefits

The true value of a UA Local 72 career lies in the "fringe" benefits, which are fully funded by the signatory contractors at no cost to the member.

  • Healthcare: Top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance for members and their families.
  • Retirement: A robust, two-part retirement plan consisting of a defined-benefit pension and an annuity (401k-style savings plan).
  • Training: All continuing education, journeyman upgrade courses, and certification testing (including the 78 welding processes) are provided at no cost.

Driving Georgia's Industrial Future: Key Construction Sectors

The work performed by Local 72 members is not confined to small projects; it is the backbone of the state’s largest and most technologically advanced infrastructure. Local 72 members are essential in the installation and maintenance of complex piping systems, which are vital for cooling, heating, and process control in massive industrial environments.

The Atlanta Data Center Boom (2024 Focus)

Georgia, and specifically the Atlanta metro area, is one of the leading U.S. markets for data center development, with billions of dollars in projects underway in 2024. These facilities require massive, complex piping systems for cooling, fire suppression, and environmental control—all core competencies of Local 72 pipefitters and plumbers. The union’s skilled workforce is directly fueling this multi-billion-dollar wave of construction, providing stable, long-term employment.

Healthcare and Manufacturing

Beyond data centers, Local 72 members are the go-to workforce for institutional and industrial construction, which has also seen a significant boom.

  • Hospitals: Installation of medical gas piping, complex HVAC systems, and sanitary plumbing for new and expanding healthcare facilities.
  • Manufacturing Plants: Industrial process piping for chemical, pharmaceutical, and automotive manufacturing, requiring the high-level welding certifications offered by the MTI-JATT.
  • Infrastructure: Involvement in local government projects, such as the 2024 Lake Allatoona Fishing Dock Project, demonstrating their commitment to public works.

In a construction environment where skill and reliability are paramount, UA Local 72 continues to be the definitive source for highly trained Plumbers, Pipefitters, and HVACR Technicians, solidifying its position as an indispensable economic driver in the state of Georgia.

The 5 Pillars of Power: Why UA Local 72 Pipefitters Are Driving Atlanta's $17 Billion Construction Boom
local 72 pipefitters union
local 72 pipefitters union

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