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45th
Annual UA Instructor Training Program Michigan
was honored to welcome the 45th United Association Instructor
Training Program. The United This
year was a record breaking year with 1,477 registered to attend
the program and 137 individuals completing their five years
and graduating with a Special Degree. The tremendous importance of the program was eptiomized in an introductory letter in the cirriculum outline for the program, by UA General President Martin J. Maddaloni, who stated, "United Association members must be ready to meet the challenges of the workplace in the next century. Thee workplace is changing rapidly and opportunities for UA Trained craftsmen and craftswomen are everywhere. In order to meet the challenges our local training program must be able to adapt and reflect the demands of the workplace." The UA Instructor Training Program is the premire training program of its kind in the construction industry.
Instructor Training Program
Quality
craftsmanship is an outcome of good teaching in the Joint UA/MCA
training programs. That is why the UA began the UA Instructor
Training Program. Its aim is to help improve the teaching techniques,
broaden manipulative skills, and expand the scientific and technical
knowledge relationship to the trade. Specifically, the programs
is designed to:
To graduate, students must complete a Five Year Program involving two hundred hours of instruction. It is divided equally into two main elements: the Professional Element, which invloves courses dealing with the principles and techniques of teaching, and the Applied and Technical Element, which deals with scientific and technical subjects matter related to the trade.
UA Training Department The UA Instructor Training Program is commited to keeping up with current technology in all areas, developing not only taining programs, but certifcations and testing programs as well. As new technologies, materials, techniques, equipment and regulations are developed, the UA s there to assess the need and create appropriate programs. To accomplish this takes a tremendous amount of time and dedication. Under the direction of UA General President Martin J. Maddaloni, the UA Training Department works year round to prepare for the Annual Instructor Program to assure it continues to be the premiere program in the construction industry.
Left - UA Special Representatives assigned to the UA Training Department- L. to R. Steve Kelly, Pete Marzec, Randy Ward, Brian MacDonald, George Bliss, Director of Training, Tommie Sweat, Don Ball, Ronald Albright, Steve Allen and Sid Cavanaugh. Right - L. to R. - Georgte Bliss introducing Doris Baker, Secretary for General President Maddaloni, Pam Ellis, Barbara Hall, Wanda Jameson, Cathy Merkel, Sarah Pingleton, all from the UA Training Department. Michigan Welcome - When the UA comes to Michigan, locally a great deal of work is done to help insure that they feel welcome by a number of agencies.
Left and Center- Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Washtenaw Country (PMC) at Registration - Lily Calmeyn, sister Jacy and Mom Diane who is the Welding Bureau Director - Center - L. to R. - Doris Reinholt and Janet Oesterle - Right - Front Row - L. to R. - Jennifer Easterday, Ann Arbor Area Conviction & Visitors Bureau (AAACVB), Viginia Kingsley, Ypsilanti Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (YACVB), Theresa Buttignoli, Community Volunteer, JoAnn Geer, Community Volunteer - Back Row - Amanda Weisler, Jimmy's Spitfire Grille, Elke Ferris, AACVB, Karen Snyder and Jimmy Jarvis, Jimmy's Spitfire Grille, Christino Betten, Moveable Feast, Mary Kerr, AACVB, Jackie Hoskins, YACVB, and Roger Bertoia, Washtenaw Community College. UA Bookstore
Text books are published by the International Pipe Trades Joint Committee specifically for the plumbing and pipefitting training needs, and have a shelf-life of only two years. After two years, they become obsolete and are revised or replaced. Wtih 80 courses, 245 sections, and 1,477 students, the UA bookstore is always one of the busiest places on registration day as UA Instructors update their personal libraries for their Training Centers, as well as obtain the books necessary for their upcoming classes. Soldering Brazing The Soldering and Brazing classes teach how-to teach methods of soldering and brazing. Experts from industry demonstrated the techniques and procedures successfully employed in teaching the subject. It is a "hands-on" course. Each instructor had the opportunity to try each method being discussed. The course covered the technical as well as the practical aspects of "soft" solderings with lead free solders. Base metals utilized included copper, brass, steel, stainless steel and aluminum.
UA Welding Program
In welding classes the only passing grade is 100%! Nothing less is acceptable because anything less would allow leaks or contamination. Welds are expected to be about two and a half times as strong as the pipe they are in so if there is a failure, it is the pipe not the weld, that fails. As
with all UA training, safety is an important factor in welding
classes. Students are thoroughly schooled in accident prevention.
Backflow Prevention Certification
The Backflow Prevention course presents guidelines for acceptable practices for testing, annual inspection and repair of blackflow prevention assemblies used in cross-connection control programs. Course material includes information needed for identifying cross-connections, understanding how backflows occur and the dangers they present, methods used to control backflows and recommended applications for each type of backflow assembly, laws and liability, along with hands-on testing and maintenance procedures for various assemblies. Students who successfully pass the voluntary certification exam administered at the conclusion of the course will be certified as Backflow Prevention and Assembly Testers and Instructors.
Industry Day
Graduation-
He urged them to take the hard earned knowledge they have accumulated over the past five years and utitlize it in their home locals to continue to give the UA the best trained, productive workers.
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Association
of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting
Industry Instructor Training Program returned to Washtenaw Community
College for the ninth time. They virtually took over the total
campus, to present the program.
The
United Association has a continuing concern for the high quality
job performance of its members. They believe that the Instructors
who teach the apprentices and journeymen of the piping trades,
are the key persons in maintaining the high level of 
performance
for which the UA has been long recognized. Their efforts of
retaining this position is best exemplified by the UA Instructor
Training Program.
Provide
learning experiences in the principles and the fundamentals
of the applied knowledge subjects such as science, mathematics,
drawing and electricity.
The
title Certified Instructor of Journeymen and Apprentices
in the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry is conferred (pictured
above) on those who satisfactorily complete 200 hours, 100 hours
of Professional Courses and 100 hours of Apllied and Technical
Courses of instruction in the Five Year Program.
In
its quest for excellence in training, the UA set up its own
unique bookstore to provide up-to-the-minute inrformation for
their classes.
The
reliance on certified welders is a necessity in the construction
and maintenace of critical piping systems. This is a detail
well known in the Mechanical Industry. That is why the United
Association, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America
(MCAA) and the National Certified PIpe Welding Bureau (NCPWB)
have formed a Tri-Partite Committee that has developed a uniform
Welder Certification Program for the Mechanical Piping Industry.
It is obvious that a harmonious relationship between the three
respective groups would be benefical to all concerned parties.
This Tri-Partite Committee helps to insure owners and users
of our construction services, the very best welders in the industry,
for the most 
economical
costs.
In
an effort to better inform the Industry of the benefits of the
UA Instructor Training School, the UA sponsored an Industry
Day. Welcomed by UA General President Martin Maddaloni, those
present toured the facility, has the opportunity to lunch with
the Instructors, and learned about the program and future programs
from Mr. Maddaloni and UA Director of Training George Bliss.
A
significant crowd wasw on hand showing enthusiastic support
for the one hundred forty-three men and women who became Certified
Instructors of Journeymen and Apprentices. George Bliss, UA
Director of Training (pictured right) presided over the 45th
Annual UA Instructor Training Program Completion Ceremony held
at he pretigious Power Center for the Performing Arts at the
The University of Michigan. Spectators joined in vociferously
to make this an outstanding, most memorable graduation ceremony.
UA
General President Martin J. Maddaloni (pictured left) gave the
charge to the graduates, and stressed the need to provide the
best, most competent, highly training tradespeople in the industry.
The significant crowd showed their enthusiam as General President
Maddaloni congratulated the graduates, and their familes for
their dedication in completing the program and their commitment
to making the Mechanical Industry a better place.
Platform
Guests included: General Executive Board MEmebers and Vice Presidents,
Louis J. Ackerman, District 1, John F. Greenwood, District 2,
Clifton Throneberry, District 3, from St. Mary's Church of Chelsea,
UA Local 190 Retiree Richard Shaneyfelt, UA General Secretary-Treasusre
Thomas Patchell, UA General President Martin J. Maddaloni, UA
Director of Training George H. Blisss, III, UA Assistant General
President C. Randal Gardner, President of Washtenaw Community
College. Dr. Larry Whitworth, Professor and Associate Director
Theodore H. Curry, II, Michigan State University School of Labor
and Industrial Relations. UA General Executive Board Members
and Vice Presidents James E. O.Mara, District 4, and Lawrence
J. Mazzola, District 5
Along
with General President Maddaloni, and Training Director George
Bliss, Washtenaw Community College's new President Dr. Larry
Whitworth (pictures above left) and Theodore H. Curry, II, (pictures
right) Professor and Associate Director, Michigan State University
School of Labor and Indutrial Relations also addressed the graduates,
congratulating them on their achievement. After the presentations,
UA General President Maddaloni and UA Assistant General President
Randal Gardner presented the diplomas.
