Two from Plumbers Local 34 honored with nationwide ‘Heroes’ award

The St. Paul plumbers union has a pair of heroes in its apprenticeship pipeline. Twice in 2022, apprentices with Plumbers Local 34 have been named Tradeswomen Heroes by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). Each month the awards program recognizes four union trades-women, selected from across the country, for their work on and off the […]

After pandemic hiatus, Plumbers union brings back Water’s Off service day

Several Twin Cities homeowners received free service through local union plumbers’ annual Water’s Off service initiative last month.

Unions bring tradeswomen together with Minneapolis conference

Tradeswomen from across the U.S. and Canada are descending on the Twin Cities for the union-sponsored Tradeswomen Build Nations conference this weekend. In its ninth year, the annual event has grown to become the world’s largest gathering of women working in the skilled construction trades. Organizers expect this year’s conference, taking place at the Hilton […]

Unions, contractors provide plumbing repairs to homeowners in need

St. Paul Plumbers Local 34 turned out more apprentice volunteers in 2018 than ever before – an encouraging sign for the future of “Water’s Off” locally.

‘Women in Construction Week’ begins Monday

Events are open to tradeswomen, students and anyone interested in learning more about a career in the construction industry.

On annual service day, union plumbers provide $70,000 in service, repairs

Volunteer plumbers provided an estimated $70,000 worth of service and repairs to senior, low-income and disabled homeowners in Minnesota during their unions’ annual Water’s Off day of service March 25. The program, begun in 1994, is a joint effort sponsored annually by Minnesota plumbers’ unions and their contractors to give back to the community – […]

Union plumbers step up to keep St. Paul Schools’ water safe

Union plumbers are stepping up to make sure drinking water is safe for students and staff in the St. Paul Public Schools. The district recently finished testing all water fixtures in its buildings for lead. While more than 95 percent of fixtures passed the initial test, maintenance staff identified 233 fixtures that needed replacing. At […]

#NAW2016: Minnesota’s Building Trades apprentices earn paychecks while mastering their craft

  When Joe Odell’s friends plan to go out on Friday nights, he usually takes a pass. It’s not that the 23-year-old from Monticello is no fun, but Odell has someplace important to be early on Saturday mornings: Heat and Frost Insulators Local 34’s training center in St. Paul. Odell is one of the 11,000-plus […]

In North Branch, union volunteers help build home for disabled veteran’s family

A partially disabled military veteran and his family own a new home in North Branch, thanks to a little help from East Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity and several Building Trades unions. After a dedication ceremony Oct. 29, Eric and JoAnn Trudeau took ownership of the 1,3252-square-foot home, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a […]

For St. Paul plumbers, giving back is an annual tradition

Members of St. Paul Plumbers Local 34 and union plumbers from across Minnesota volunteered to fix plumbing problems for elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners during the annual “Water’s Off” service event March 19. For the 22nd consecutive year, union plumbers provided free labor, and their employers, members of the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association, donated replacement […]