Pipe Up! With The General President

In a special Independence Day episode, Pipe Up! highlights a young UA member preparing to represent both the United States and the United Association on the world stage. General President Mark McManus sits down with 19-year-old UA Local 777 apprentice Charlie Goede, who will travel to Shanghai this September as Team USA’s competitor in plumbing and heating at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition — oft...

The United Association has reached a historic milestone: more than 400,000 members strong. In this special episode, General President Mark McManus is joined by UA Director of Organizing and Recruitment Brian Fisher to reflect on the growth that made it possible and the opportunities it creates for members across North America.   They discuss the organizing strategies, training investments, contrac...

As AI and digital infrastructure continue to expand across North America, data centers have become one of the fastest-growing sectors of UA work—and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, General President Mark McManus sits down with UA International Representative Chris Madello to discuss the rise of data centers, the myths and misinformation surrounding them, and why these projects are...

From Washington to job sites across the country, the policies being debated right now have a direct impact on UA members and the work ahead. In this episode, General President Mark McManus sits down with UA Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Russ Breckenridge to break down the current political landscape, the importance of bipartisan engagement, and why issues like permitting reform and...

Recorded during the 2026 UA Pipeline Conference, General President Mark McManus sits down with UA Director of Pipeline and Gas Distribution Chad Gilbert and UA Local 798 Business Manager Justin Wallace to discuss the state of the pipeline industry and the work ahead. They break down the growing demand for pipeline infrastructure, the massive projects on the horizon, and how the UA is preparing its...

In recognition of World Plumbing Day, General President Mark McManus sits down with UA Director of Plumbing Services Tom Bigley for a conversation on the vital role plumbers play in protecting public health, delivering clean water, and keeping communities running. Drawing on decades in the trade, they reflect on the evolution of the plumbing industry, the importance of strong codes and training, a...

Recorded in the new Pipe Up! studio at UA Headquarters, this episode features newly elected Business Managers Cameron Wilkinson (Local 26 – Western Washington), Cody Penniston (Local 519 – Miami, FL), and Mark Heinmiller (Local 189 – Columbus, OH). Fresh off the UA’s New Business Manager Seminar, they discuss their journeys into the pipe trades, stepping into leadership, strengthening their locals...

In this episode, UA Director of Information Technology Jason Pope and Director of Education and Training Ray Boyd share their personal journeys into the pipe trades and reflect on what it means to serve as Black leaders within the United Association. They discuss the importance of creating pathways into the trades for communities that may not yet be familiar with union careers, and how expanding a...

In the first Pipe Up! episode of 2026, General President Mark McManus sits down with UA Pipe PALS (Peer Allies for Life Success) Committee members Omar Galindo (Local 78), Ben Bradshaw (Local 100), and PJ Moss (Local 32) for an honest conversation about mental health in the pipe trades. They discuss breaking the stigma, expanding peer support, and growing training like VitalCog—so more members hav...

As the year comes to a close, General President Mark McManus sits down with John Wright for a candid conversation on service, leadership, and the growth of the UA. This holiday bonus episode reflects on a lifetime of dedication to the members and families who make our union strong.

General President Mark McManus sits down with General Secretary-Treasurer Derrick Kualapai, Assistant General President Michael Pleasant, and Executive Vice President James Tucker for a year-end discussion on progress across the UA and the major work opportunities ahead in 2026. Plus, they share their own holiday traditions and answer questions from UA members.

General President Mark McManus sits down with Mike Hazard, Program Manager of the UA’s Veterans in Piping (VIP) Program; Andrew Garcia, VIP graduate and UA Local 364 member; and Sean Ellis, Organizer at UA Local 230 and VIP graduate, to talk about why veterans are such a natural fit for the UA. From discipline, safety, and teamwork to real stories of finding their way into the trades, they lay out...

Recorded at the 2025 UA Canadian Conference in Québec City, General President Mark McManus sits down with Terence Snooks, Director of Canadian Affairs; Trevor Robertson, Administrative Assistant to the General President for Canada; and Stéphane Favron, International Representative for Québec. In our first bilingual episode, they discuss how the UA coordinates training, standards, and agreements ac...

Recorded live from Tradeswomen Build Nations in Chicago, General President McManus hosts a conversation on how recruitment, mentorship, and leadership turn training into real work and more hours for members across two nations. He’s joined by Laura Ceja (Special Representative for Training & Outreach), Alanna Marklund (Special Representative & National Manager for Youth, Diversity & Ind...

In this Labor Day special, recorded live at the UA Instructor Training Program, General President Mark McManus sits down with Earl Setches, Secretary of Australia’s Plumbing & Pipe Trades Employees Union (PPTEU), and Paddy Kavanagh, General Secretary of the Connect Trade Union in Ireland. The conversation is a companion to our ITP episode on instructor development, focusing here on how alignin...

Recorded live at the UA Instructor Training Program in Ann Arbor, General President Mark McManus hosts a conversation about how instructor training turns into real work and more hours for our members. He’s joined by Ray Boyd, UA Director of Education & Training, Mike Murphy (UA Local 333), and Tiffany Hodge (UA Local 602)—both graduates of the Future Instructors Program. They discuss stepping...

In this episode, General President Mark McManus heads to Beantown for a packed round‑table with Brian Kelly, Director of HVAC‑R Service, UA International Representative Harry Brett, District 1 VP & Local 550 BM Pete Gibbons, and Business Managers Jimmy Vaughan (Local 12) and Danny O’Brien (Local 537). From Harvard’s Allston expansion to big Seaport builds, they break down the union job boom re...

In this episode of Pipe Up! with the General President, Business Manager Chris Madello (UA Local 602) and Business Manager T Smalls (UA Local 5) join General President Mark McManus—along with an apprentice from each local—to unpack the surge of new union jobs powering Washington, DC’s critical infrastructure. After the conversation, GP McManus takes questions from the Pipe Up! mailbag.

In a special Memorial Day episode, General President Mark McManus sits down with Brother Kenneth David of UA Local 396—a Medal of Honor recipient, Vietnam veteran, and proud union member. From the battlefield to the jobsite, and now as a passionate veterans’ advocate, Brother David reflects on courage, sacrifice, and the union values that shaped his life.

GP McManus welcomes Gary Arnold, UA International Vice President for District 5 and Business Manager of Denver Pipefitters Local 208 to talk about the journey from his apprenticeship to union leadership. Gary shares what it takes to build strong training programs, lead on the job, and keep the UA moving forward. Plus, they answer real questions from rank-and-file members on all things UA.

Welcome to Pipe Up! With General President Mark McManus. On this inaugural episode, GP McManus shares his vision for the show and why he’s so optimistic about the future of the UA.