Labor Relations

As the voice of Chicago’s union mechanical contracting industry, MCA of Chicago keeps labor relations at the top of its list of priorities, working closely with the leadership of the United Association Pipe Fitters Local 597 to protect the interests of working men and women while providing contractors with the best trained personnel in the industry.

MCA of Chicago and Local 597 share a common goal – to educate workers and contractors – and that goal has forged a strong bond between labor and management. MCA contractors play many active roles in effective labor/management communications:

They bargain the Area Agreement, Industrial Agreement and Service Agreement with Pipe Fitters’ Local 597.
They jointly oversee the Apprenticeship Program and the Service Apprentice sub-committee.
They are the management representatives to the Joint Arbitration Board, which negotiates all contracts, allocates increases, and handles all disputes with Local 597.
They are management trustees, who, along with representatives of Local 597, set operating policies for the $150 million Welfare Fund, $1 billion Pension Fund, 401(k) Plan, and the LMCC (Substance Abuse Testing Plan).

With such high levels of interaction and cooperation, it is easy to see why MCA of Chicago and Local 597 have gone over 100 years without a strike or work stoppage.