The United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Sprinklerfitters, and Service Technicians signed an affiliation agreement with the Plumbers Trade Employees Association of Australia Aug. 15 during the UA North America annual training session, held at Washtenaw Community College.

The two unions are both members of the World Plumbing Council and have been collaborating unofficially for about six years. As part of the merger, Australian instructors will arrive in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti every year to both learn and teach at the UA’s annual week-long training seminar.

When the Australians join the experience as full partners, they will be able to share expertise in water conservation and learn from American instructors who have more experience with in heavy industry, a growing sector in Australia, according to William Hite, general president of the UA.
The partnership will also mean workers' certifications will allow them to find work in either country, as well as in Canada, which is already part of the UA. The new affiliation will open a growing market in Australia to the North American workforce, Hite said.

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