United Association Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 Business Manager Brian Dunn joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the impact organizing has made on his Local.
Currently, Local 669 has over 14,000 members. About 22 years ago, their membership was much smaller, with just over 4,000 members. Dunn credited this 200 percent increase in membership to organizing. While the Local has brought in a good number of apprentices, there has been a major push to organize non-union sprinkler fitters. By the end of 2025, he believes membership could increase to 16,000 or 17,000 thanks to additional organizing efforts.
A military veteran, Dunn did not have the ability to use either the UA Veterans in Piping Program or Helmets to Hardhats to enter the trades. However, he strongly recommends active-duty transitioning military service members research these programs. He said the UA VIP Sprinkler Fitter program at Fort Campbell provides Local 669 with a number of new members each year – and contractors love these apprentices. The UA VIP graduates are hard workers who understand the importance of getting up early and doing their job.
The growth in membership has helped Local 669 during the nation’s current construction boom. Over the last four years, Dunn noted Local 669 has had less than 2 percent unemployment. He expects the demand for sprinkler fitters to increase in the next few years, especially with the planned growth in the U.S. semiconductor sector, which will create a lot of jobs for his members. There is no slowdown in sight, Dunn added.
Besides talking about growth, he also touched on the need for an individual sprinkler fitting license in the state of New York. Dunn is not sure what the holdup is on passing legislation that would require individual licensing for sprinkler fitter installers. In this life-safety industry, the work of sprinkler fitters saves property and lives-often the lives of firefighters. This work needs to be performed by highly trained professionals and the license would ensure this.
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