Apprenticeship

The UA offers a comprehensive training program for all members. The Apprenticeship program typically runs for five-years with a graduated pay scale.  Apprentices are trained on Weeknights and on Saturday's while working, so you learn while you earn!

On the job training with the best hands in the business means that at the end of your five years as an apprentice you will be a master craftsman/woman in the pipefitting business.

UA Local 537 members are found on all commercial and industrial projects including school construction jobs, powerhouses, chip-fab plants, hospitals and universities.

Union benefits go beyond our excellent healthcare coverage and wages. As a union member your wages and benefits are guaranteed through the collective bargaining process.

Many people don’t know that if you work without a contract in ANY INDUSTRY, your employer can change your job description at will. They can even change your salary or decide that you are not eligible for overtime pay.

As a union member, your contract spells out your working conditions, which go far beyond your wages. Health and safety issues are clearly addressed in the contract, and you are provided with representation in the case that your rights are violated by an employer.

Our Training Center is located in Dorchester and the address is as follows:

40 Enterprise Street
Dorchester, MA 02125
617-825-3777

Apprenticeship Application Process

Applicants must apply in person, be at least 18 years of age at the time of application, a high school graduate or equivalent, and have a valid driver’s license. Copies of the following documents must be submitted with the application.  Please note: photocopy service will not be available.

• HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED
• HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT OF GRADES OR GED TEST RESULTS
• BIRTH CERTIFICATE
• VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE
• SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
• DD-214 (Military Discharge) if applicable

Additional information will be given to applicant at the time of application.

When are applications accepted?
Applications are accepted during specific times throughout the year and we generally take in one apprentice class per year.  If you're interested in applying, check our site regularly for notices of when we're accepting applications.

Timothy T. Gilligan, Training Coordinator

Click Here to contact the Apprentice/Training Department via email.

Apprenticeship News and Pertinent Information

Apprenticeship Events

10/20/2009  thru  10/31/2010	Tuesday: FYI: ADDRESS CHANGES FOR JOURNEYMAN & APPRENTICESDOWNLOAD ATTACHMENT: 20091020180952.address change memo.doc
04/29/2010  thru  01/28/2011	Thursday: 2011 APPRENTICE APPLICATION PERIOD @ 11:00am - 3:30pm The Application Period for Pipefitter and Air Conditioning-Refrigeration Apprenticeship will be held at the Pipefitters Union Local 537 Training Center, 40 Enterprise Street, Dorchester, MA on the following dates and times. There is no application fee.   Start date: January 10, 2011                                                       End date: January 27, 2011                                                   Monday through Thursday …….11:00 AM to 3:30 PM             Fridays and Weekends Closed   Applicants must apply in person, be at least 18 years of age, a high school graduate or equivalent, and have a valid driver’s license. Copies of the following documents must be submitted with application.                             Please note: photocopy service will not be available.        HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED                        HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT OF GRADES OR GED TEST RESULTS                        BIRTH CERTIFICATE                        VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE                        SOCIAL SECURITY CARD                        DD-214 (Military Discharge) if applicable     NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE ALL THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS OR WE WILL NOT ACCEPT YOUR APPLICATION.     Additional information will be given to applicant at the time of application. Applicants will be notified of their interview date by certified mail return receipt during the months of April and May 2011.   No application will be accepted after 3:30 PM on Thursday, January 27, 2011   For additional information see our website: pipefitters537.org