UA Local 601 - Steamfitters

10/15/2026

As Hispanic Heritage Month wraps up, we’re proud to share apprentice Brandon Reyes’s interview with Telemundo Wisconsin. Brandon found the trade after serving in the Navy, and he says being bilingual has helped him in his career. These days he’s also visiting high schools to tell students about a path many of them have never heard of.

Watch the full interview (in Spanish): https://www.telemundowi.com/news/conozca-mas-sobre-una-carrera-en-instalacion-de-tuberias-steamfittter

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (TELEMUNDO WISCONSIN) — Si usted o alguien que conoce tiene facilidad para las matemáticas y habilidades mecánicas, una carrera en los oficios especializados podría ser una buena opción.Brandon

09/18/2026

Today we're celebrating every steamfitter, welder, and HVAC tech who shows up and does the work most people never see. National Tradesmen Day is for the 3,000+ members of Local 601 who keep this region running, one pipe, one weld, one job site at a time. Happy National Tradesmen Day to our Local 601 family!

09/11/2026

Local 601 stands in remembrance of the sacrifices made by U.S. citizens and service members 25 years ago today. 🇺🇸🙏

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from Local 601!

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09/03/2026

We sat down with four of our 3rd year apprentices this back-to-school season to find out exactly what they'd tell the first years just getting started. Turns out it's not just about the trade, it's mindset, money, and taking ownership of your career.

What advice would you give to our first year apprentices? 👀

If you're thinking about joining the trades, learn more about our steamfitter apprenticeship program at https://bit.ly/4x8Hms9.

08/31/2026

Looking for Labor Day plans? South Central Federation of Labor is hosting Labor Fest '26 on Monday, September 7th at the Madison Labor Temple, and we want to see our Local 601 family there!

Live music, food carts, kids activities, and a Solidarity Roll Call at 2 PM. This is what union community looks like outside the job site.

They're also running a Labor Day collection for local families: $25 gift cards, backpacks for high schoolers, school supplies, and hair care products. If you're headed down, consider bringing something to give.

Get more info at scfl.org.

07/31/2026

Mike Unger left Local 601 for a non-union shop. The pay looked fine at first. Then his wife got pregnant with twins.

The non-union company had promised solid healthcare coverage. But the high-risk pregnancy meant frequent doctor visits and mounting bills, and when the bills came, what had been promised simply became unavailable.

That's when Mike realized something he hadn't known before: as a Local 601 member, he'd had options all along.

A lot of people don't realize unions like Local 601 are a resource during a work crisis, whether it's losing a job or something else life throws at you. Learn more about why Mike came back to Local 601 at https://bit.ly/4fFMm0O.

07/29/2026

Brotherhood, sisterhood, and people who have your back. That's what six years in the union means to Michael Gray, a service steamfitter with Air Temperature Services who just made journeyman.

That's what Local 601 is built on. Good benefits, good hours, good wages, and people who genuinely look out for each other.

Curious what being a union steamfitter could look like for you? Start here 👇
https://bit.ly/becoming-a-steamfitter

07/23/2026

For many general contractors, the idea of unionizing feels like giving up control, flexibility or margin. Randy Lenover, owner of Merchants Refrigeration and Mechanical, initially felt the same way.

What changed his mind wasn't an argument, it was experience. Since partnering with Local 601, he's had access to trained workers, stronger benefits, and the flexibility to scale up or down, and grown his team from 3 technicians to 10 in under two years.

If you're a non-union contractor who's been on the fence, here's his advice: stop leaving those advantages on the table.

Interested in learning more about what Local 601 membership could mean for your business? Visit https://shorturl.at/a3VjZ.

07/20/2026

Overhead welding isn't something you can fake your way through. It takes control, patience, and reps, the kind of skill you only build with your hands, not from a textbook.

This is what apprenticeship looks like in real time: real tools, real welds, real progress. If you're looking for a career where you earn while you learn, steamfitting might be the trade for you.

Learn more about Local 601 and our apprenticeship opportunities at https://shorturl.at/VWI3l.